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Note: Spoken lines from Shakespeare’s drama are in the public domain, as is the Globe edition (1864) of his plays, which provided the basic text of the speeches in this new version of Timon of Athens. But Timon of Athens, by William Shakespeare: Presented by Paul W. Collins, is a copyrighted work, and is made available for your personal use only, in reading and study.

Student, beware: This is a presentation, not a scholarly work, so you should be sure your teacher, instructor or professor considers it acceptable as a reference before quoting characters’ comments or thoughts from it in your report or term paper.

Chapter One

Money Men

A feast is to be held this evening—and in Athens during the splendor of its golden age, that promises a night of munificence: a sumptuous supper with fine wines, elegant company, clever and charming conversation, and lively entertainment. Lord Timon is honoring his long-time friend Lord Alcibiades, the brilliant military commander whose skill and leadership in battle have brought victory to the Athenians in their fight against Lacedaemon and its Spartan warriors.

On the portico at the front of Timon’s mansion, the wealthy and politically powerful guests are already arriving; by twos and threes, the nobles—most of them legislators and worldly-wise men of commerce whose trading reaches to far-distant lands—amble toward the dining hall.

The terrace beside the massive house is busy; the host’s generous patronage is well known, prompting artists and artisans to bring their latest works and wares, merchants to show samples of their newest goods.

An eager young poet greets a middle-aged painter, who is kneeling to untie the string securing a cloth that protects his latest panel. “Good day, sir!”

“I am glad you’re well.”

“I have not seen you long! How goes the world?”

“It wears, sir, as it grows.”

“Aye, that’s well known, but what particular rarity?” asks the poet; gossip is a kind of currency. “What’s strange, which manifold record matches not?” He peers around at the array of Athenian excellence. “See the magic!—OBounty, all these spirits thy power hath conjured to attend!”

He nods politely as two prosperous guests walking past them. “I know that merchant!” he tells the stolid painter.

The artist, tilting his work against the wall, glances over. “I know them both; th’ other’s a jeweler.”

- Not far from the poet, the merchant stops to talk to his companion. “Oh, ’tis a worthy lord!”

- “Aye, that’s most fixèd!” effuses the jeweler; they both know that Lord Timon’s worth, including holdings among the lands his troops seized during the war, is immense.

- “A most incomparable man!—inspired, as it were, to an untirable and continuate goodness! He surpasses!”

- “I have a jewel here—”

- “Oh, pray, let’s see’t! For the Lord Timon, sir?”

- “If he will touch the estimate. But, as for that….” He laughs; the price is set too high, of course, but that could hardly be an impediment, given their host’s astonishingly profligate spending on any capricious notion.

The budding poet muses—somewhat guiltily: When we, for recompense, have praised the vile, it stains the glory in that happy verse which aptly sings the good.

- The merchant looks at the precisely cut gem. “’Tis a good form.”

- “And rich!” says the jeweler. “Here is a water,”—he means a fine clarity—“look ye!” he says, as they stroll away.

The painter has finished positioning his piece so as best to catch the light. He turns to the poet, who is watching the growing assembly of eager purveyors. “You are rapt, sir, in some work—something dedicated ‘To the great lord’…?”

The ambitious youth perks up. “A thing slipped idly from me,” he claims, showing the pack of papers he has brought. He looks toward the clouds. “Our poesy is as a gum which oozes from whence ’tis nourishèd”—like pine sap. “The fire i’ the flint shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame provokes itself—and, like the current, flies each bound it chafes!”

Satisfied with his several similes, the writer asks the painter, pointlessly, “What have you there?”

“A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?”

“Upon the heels of my presentment, sir,” is the confident reply; but without Lord Timon’s patronage, the work would perish unprinted. “Let’s see your piece.”

The painter unveils a vapid portrait, one of Timon in repose. “’Tis a good piece….”

“So ’tis! This comes off well and excellent!”

It’s the painter’s turn to affect modesty. “Indifferent.”

“Admirable! How this grace bespeaks his own standing!—what a mental power this eye shoots forth!—how big an imagination moves in this lip!” He intends no sarcasm, nor does the dull dauber hear any. “As to the silence of the gesture, one might… interpret!” says the poet, nonplussed, actually, by the flat figure, the face’s empty gaze.

“It is a pretty mocking of the life,” the artist allows. He points to an area of paint. “Here is a touch; is’t good?”

“I will say of it: ittutors Nature! Artificing strife lives in these touches—livelier than life!”

Actual life draws their eyes away, however, as several famous politicians pass by, on their way in to the evening meal.

“How this lord is followed! The senators of Athens!” breathes the poet, eyeing the growing number of rich celebrities drawn to Lord Timon’s home. “Happy man!”

The painter nods toward the doors, where several magnates are arriving. “Look, more.”

The poet watches, thoughtful. “You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors? I have, in this rough work,”—he touches the bundled sheets, his latest effort, “shaped out a man whom this beneath-world doth embrace, and hug with amplest entertainment!”—as it does Lord Timon. “My free drift halts not particularly, but moves itself upon a wide sea of wax!”—the tablets on which the draft was scratched. “No leveled malice infects one comma in the course I hold!—it flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on, leaving no trace behind!”

No trace? The painter looks at the sheaf of paper. “How shall I understand you?”

“I will unbolt to you.” The poet steps closer. “You see how all conditions, how allminds—of glib and slippery creatures, as well as those of grave and austere quality—tender down their services to Lord Timon, hanging upon his good and gracious nature! His large fortune subdues all sorts of art, and properties it to his love and attendance!

“Yea, from the glass-faced flatterer”—who tries to mirror the nobleman’s moods—“to Apemantus, who few things loves better than abhoringhimself—even he drops down the knee before him, and returns in peace, most rich in Timon’s nod!” Apemantus, an austere thinker and cynic, takes sour pleasure in observing the nobleman’s displays of beneficence.

“I saw them speak together.”

The poet warms to the task of describing his literary conception. “Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill feignèd Fortune to be throned; the base o’ the mount is ranked with all deserts, all kind of natures, that labour on the bosom of this sphere to propagate their states.

“Amongst them all, whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixèd, one do I personate of Lord Timon’s frame—whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her—whose present grace to slaves and servants transcends his rival’s!”—her own.

Picturing the scene, the painter nods. “’Tis conceivèd to scope. This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks, with one man beckoned from the rest below, bowing his head against the steepy mount to climb to his happiness, would be well expressed in my condition”—as a painting.

“Aye, sir, but hear me on,” says the poet. He looks around them and lowers his voice. “All those who were his fellows but of late, some better than his value,”—richer than he, “who for the moment follow his strides, fill his lobbies with attendance, rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear, make sacred even his stirrup, and through him drink, free as the air—”

“Aye, marry, what of these?”

“When Fortune, in her shift and change of mood, spurns her lately belovèd, all his dependants who laboured after him to the mountain’s top, even on their knees and hands, let him slip down!—not one accompanying his declining foot!”

The painter is hardly impressed. “’Tis common: a thousand moral paintings I can show that shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune’s more pregnantly than words.” He scans the crowd of men around them, all seeking patronage. “Yet you do well to show Lord Timon that ordinary eyes have seen the foot above the head”—perceived the danger.

A trumpet sounds to herald the host, who comes outside to greet his arriving guests. Followed by several of his household servants, the nobleman nods courteously to each visitor. Walking with him is a messenger sent by Lord Ventidius.

Timon asks, concerned, “Imprisoned is he, say you?”

“Aye, my good lord! Five talents is his debt,”—an enormous amount of money, “his means most short, his creditors most strict! Your honourable letter he desires, to those who have shut him up—which, failing, periods his comfort!”—ends his hope.

“Noble Ventidius!” says Timon, dismayed. “Well, I am not of that feather to shake off my friend when he must need me! I do know him a gentleman that well deserves a help—which he shall have! I’ll pay the debt, and free him.”

“Your Lordship ever binds him!”

“Commend me to him,” says Timon. “I will send his ransom—and, bid him, being enfranchisèd, come to me. ’Tis not enough to help the feeble up but not to support him after. Fare you well.”

The messenger bows. “All happiness to Your Honour!” He hurries away to free his master from the creditors’ bondage.

An older Athenian approaches. “Lord Timon, hear me speak!”

The host smiles. “Freely, good father.”

“Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.”

“I have so; what of him?”

“Most noble Timon, call the man before thee,” demands the graybeard.

Timon asks the servants with him, “Attends he here, or no? Lucilius!”

The young man comes forward. “Here, at your lordship’s service.”

The petitioner frowns. “This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature, by night frequents my house! I am a man that from my first have been inclinèd to thrift—and my estate deserves an heir more raisèd than one which holds a trencher!”—a servant who carries others’ food.

“Well; what further?”

“Only one daughter have I, no kin else, on whom I may confer what I have got. The maid is fair, o’ the youngest for a bride, and I have bred her, at my dearest cost, in qualities of thebest! This man of thine”—not gentleman—“attempts her love! I prithee, noble lord, join with me to forbid him her resort!—myself have spoken in vain!”

“The man is honest—”

“Therefore he will be, Timon,” insists the Athenian. “His honesty rewards him in itself; it must not bearmy daughter!”—poor phrasing, he learns, as men in a nearby throng of artisans chuckle at bare.

“Does she love him?”

The old man scoffs. “She is young and apt! Our own precedent passions do instruct us what levity’s in youth.”

Timon asks Lucilius, “Love you the maid?”

“Aye, my good lord!—and she accepts of it!”

The father shakes his head. “If in her marriage myconsent be missing, I call the gods to witness, I will choose forth mine heir from the beggars of the world, and dispossess her of all!”

Timon asks, calmly, “How shall she be endowèd if she be mated with an equal husband?”

“Three talents on the present; in future, all.”

Timon regards Lucilius kindly. “This gentleman of mine hath served me long; to build his fortune I will strain a little, for ’tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter; what you bestow, in him I’ll counterpoise, and make him weigh with her.”

The old Athenian smiles—but raises an eyebrow. “Most noble lord, to this empawn me your honour, and she is his.”

Young Lucilius bows, tearfully overjoyed. “Humbly I thank Your Lordship! Never may the state or fortune fall into my keeping which is not owed to you!”

The placated parent hurries away to speak with Lord Timon’s steward about the money.

The poet approaches Timon and bows. He proffers the manuscript, copied from wax notes. “Vouchsafe my labour, and long live Your Lordship!”

Timon accepts the volume, still tied with string. “I thank you; you shall hear from me anon! Go not away!” He turns to the painter. “What have you there, my friend?” he asks, smiling at several illustrious guests who are passing near them.

“A piece of painting, which I do beseech Your Lordship to accept.”

“Painting is welcome,” says Timon, barely glancing at the picture. He muses. “A painting is almost the natural man: when man’s nature traffics with dishonour, he is but an out side;these penciled figures are even such as they give out.

“I like your work; and you shall find I like it!” Timon promises. “Wait in attendance till you hear further from me.”

“More a satiety of commendations!—if I should pay you for’t as ’tis extolled, it would unclew me quite!”—unravel all his holdings. Those nearby laugh at the absurd idea.

“My lord, ’tis rated as those who sell would give!”—offered at the lower pricing used among merchants, the jeweler claims. “But as you well know, things of like value, differing in the owners, are prizèd in accord with their masters! Believe’t, dear lord: you’ll mend the jewel by the wearing of it!”

“Well mocked,” laughs Timon modestly.

“No, my good lord!” says the nearby merchant obsequiously, “he speaks the common tongue, which all men speak with him!”

Timon grins, spotting an obvious exception to that: a thin, ill-dressed old man trudging past the front gate. “Look who comes here!” He turns and asks the guests, “Will you be chided?”

The newcomer, surveying the gathering with a smoldering glare, is Apemantus, a thinker with a dour outlook; all too often his crude, offhand gibes are pointed—and, even worse, accurate.

“We’ll bear with Your Lordship,” says the little jeweler bravely.

But the textiles merchant, who has often smarted under the curmudgeon flogging wit, foresees no shelter, even in their host’s presence. “He’ll spare none!” he warns.

Timon smiles. “Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!”—the morning greeting is wry; the eccentric is known to sleep and rise without regard to the hour.

Apemantus snorts. “Yes, he is worthy of thee—and of paying thee for thy labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o’ the flatterer”—deserves him. He looks around at the obvious opulence. “Heavens, that I were a lord!”

Timon asks, “What wouldst do then, Apemantus?”

“E’en as Apemantus does now: hate a lord with my heart!”

“What, thyself?”

“Aye.”

“Wherefore?”

“That I had no angry wit”—disgust—“at being a lord!” He turns to the mercer. “Art not thou a merchant?”

A heralding horn sounds from behind the building, and a boy comes running along its side.

“What trumpet’s that?” asks Timon as the lad approaches and bows.

“’Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse, all of companionship!” The Athenian general and his chief captains are dismounting, leaving their steeds with men of the estate’s stable.

Lord Timon, himself a celebrated former commander, is delighted by the arrival of his compeer. “Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us!” Two of his attendants hurry away with the messenger.

“You must needs dine with me,” Timon tells the mercer. “Go you not hence till I have thanked you!” He points to one of the bolts of fine wool, woven with threads of silver and gold. “When dinner’s done, show me this piece!

“I am joyful of your sights!” he tells the visitors.

He turns, ready to greet the renowned warrior.

Chapter Two

Giving Honors

With a pounding of boots’ hard-leather heels on stone pavement, Alcibiades and his contingent stride to the front of the mansion.

As military gentlemen with colorful sashes join the civilian guests, Apemantus watches their hand-shaking and bowing. So, so, there! May aches contract and starve your supple joints! There should be small love ’mongst these sweet knaves!—just all this courtesy!

The war is over, its profits made, the spoils divided. Many of the troops have been released, and these remaining officers are a state expense—and a potential threat.

Apemantus watches the Athenians, loathing them all. The strain of Man is bred out—into baboon and monkey!

Alcibiades beams at Timon. “Sir, you have dissolved my longing, and I feed most hungrily on your sight!”

“Right welcome, sir!” says Timon. “Ere we depart, we’ll share a bounteous time in diverse pleasures! Pray you, let us go in.” Walking with the general, he leads the officers and the other invited guests inside.

Apemantus follows them into the outer hall, but he stands apart, waiting for the way to clear. Two haughty lords approach him, ready to taunt the outcast—who is yawning.

Apemantus laughs. “I will fly like a dog—the heels o’ the ass!” he says, heading into the dining hall.

“He’s opposite to humanity!” complains the taller man. But they can smell the delectable scents of fine food drifting from the nobleman’s storied kitchen, and hear the guests’ amiable laughter. “Come, shall we in, and taste Lord Timon’s bounty? He outdoes the very heart of kindness!”

“He pours it out! Plutus, the god of gold, is but his steward! No meed”—obligation—“but he repays sevenfold above itself! No gift to him but breeds the giver a return exceeding all acquittance and use!”—principal and interest.

As more whiffs from the costly cookery reach them, the smaller man smiles. “The noblest mind he carries that ever governed a man!”

“Long may he live in Fortune’s!” cries his fat companion merrily. “Shall we in? I’ll keep you company,” he offers—as if he could be kept away from the savory smells.

Aromas—of baking bread, roasting meats, delicate sauces and seasonings—suffuse the air in the comfortable dining hall of the huge house. The many servants, supervised by Timon’s steward, Flavius, carry in steaming platters and pans, dishes and ewers, baskets of pastry, and flagons of wine. At the side, musicians try to make the music of their hautboys, wind instruments carved of wood, heard over the happy clamor and the clatter of cutlery. Spoons are provided for all; the guests use the knives they always carry.

Alcibiades sits with Timon at the head table, and many of Athens’ most distinguished lords are seated nearby, all animated by cordial conversation. At the back of the wide hall, Apemantus lurks, his shoulders drooping as always.

Lord Ventidius comes to Timon’s table, and the host rises to greet the newly arrived—recently freed—member of the aristocracy.

“Most honoured Timon,” says Ventidius as he kneels, “it hath pleased the gods to remember my father’s age, and call him to long peace.” The hall is silent for a moment, in respect for the lord’s sorrow at his father’s death. “He is gone happy—and has left merich!”

Ventidius rises. “Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound to your free heart—from whose help I derivèd liberty—I do return those talents—doubled, with thanks and service!”

“Oh, by no means, honest Ventidius,” says Timon jovially. “You mistake my love; I give it freely ever!—and there’s none can truly say he gives, if he receives! Even if our betters”—the gods—“play at that game, we must not dare to imitate them!

“Faults that are rich are fair!” he adds—very much aware of the guests’ astonishment; he has turned down a sum that even the fabulously wealthy consider huge.

Ventidius bows. “A noble spirit!”

The guests rise, applauding in awe. “Nay, my lords,” says Timon, “ceremony was devised at first but to set a gloss on faint deeds—hollow welcome that recants goodness—paltry ere ’tis shown. But where there is truefriendship, there needs none!

“Pray, sit! More welcome are ye to my fortunes than my fortune is to me.”

“My lord, we always have confessed it!”—acknowledged that, cries a senator, as Ventidius joins the other nobles. They all take their seats.

Apemantus laughs. Confess and be hanged! is a common gibe. “‘Confessed’ it! Hanged it, have you not?” he mutters;Timon’s friends are executing his wealth.

Timon hears the voice of his favorite font of piquant reproof, and motions him forward. “Oh, Apemantus, you are well come!”

“No, you shall not make me welcome!” protests the man. “I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.”

Timon laughs. “Fie!—thou’rt a churl; ye’ve got a humour there does not become a man! ’Tis much to blame!” He turns to the nearest table. “They say, my lords, ‘ira furor brevis est’”—anger is abbreviated fury. “But yond man is very angry!” The noblemen laugh—too heartily—at the jest, and at the volubly irascible philosopher.

Timon tells a servant to seat Apemantus. “Go let him have a table by himself—for neither does he affect company nor is he indeed fit for’t!”

Timon nods. “I’ll take no heed of thee,” he says, as Apemantus seats himself not far away. “Thou’rt Athenian, and therefore welcome.

“Prithee let my meat make theesilent; I myself desire no power to do so.”

But as the others begin to sup, Apemantus merely watches, thinking. I scorn thy meat!—’twould choke me, for I should ne’er flatter thee!

O you gods, what a number of men eatTimon, and he sees ’em not! It grieves me to see so many dip their meat in one man’s blood—and all the madness is, hecheers them on to it!

I wonder that men dare trust themselves with men. Methinks they should invite them without knives; good for their meat —as guests could not carve too-big portions for themselves— and safer for their lives! There’s much example for’t: the fellow that sits next him now, parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in a divided draught, —between swigs— is the readiest man to kill him! It has been proven!

If I were a large man, I should fear to drink at meals, lest they should spy my windpipe’s endangerèd nodes; great men should drink with leather on their throats!

The other guests hoist their goblets. “Let it flow this way, my good lord!” cries a fawning senator, pouring from a flagon.

- The cynic laughs. ‘Flow this way’! A brave fellow!—he keeps his tides well! Those healths will make thee and thy state look ill, Timon. Apemantus lifts his own cup. Here’s that which is too weak to be a sinner: honest water, which ne’er left man i’ the mire! This and my food are equals; there’s no odds. Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods!

Silently, he offers his own prayer:

Apemantus’s grace.

‘Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;

I pray for no man but my self.

Grant I may never prove so fond

As to trust a man, or his oath for bond—

Or a harlot for her weeping,

Or a dog that seems a-sleeping,

Or a jailer with my freedom—

Or my friends, if I should need ’em!

Amen.’

So, fall to’t! he thinks, as the gentlemen feast. Rich men sin, but I eat root.

He bites into the raw carrot he brought with him, sips some water, and groans as his stomach growls. Much good may it do thy good heart, Apemantus.

At the front, Timon notices that his wartime friend seems troubled. “Captain Alcibiades, your heart’s in the field now.”

“My heart is ever at your service, my lord,” says the general.

Timon understands military men: “You had rather be at a breakfast ofenemies than a dinner of friends!”

Alcibiades remembers foes their forces defeated. “If they were bleeding anew, my lord—there’s no meat like ’em!” He beams at Timon. “I could wish my best friend at such a feast!”

- And I would that all these flatterers were thine enemies,thinks Apemantus, munching on his vegetable, but smelling gravy, so that then thou mightst kill ’em and bid me to ’em!

Alcibiades’ smile fades, his mood short-lived; one of his best officers has been arrested here in Athens after killing a civilian in a duel.

A nobleman at Timon’s table gushes, “Might we but have the happiness, my lord, that you would for once use our hearts—whereby we might express some part of our zeals!—we should think ourselves forever perfected!”—complete and satisfied.

Timon smiles. “Oh, no doubt, my good friends, the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you!—how had you been my friends, else? Why have you that charitable title from among thousands, did not you chiefly belong to my heart?

“I have told more of you to myself than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you!

“‘O you gods,’ think I, ‘what need we have any friends, if we should ne’er have need of ’em?’ They were the most needless creatures living should we ne’er have use for ’em, and would most resemble sweet musical instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves!”

He smiles at the guests. “Why, I have often wished myself poorer, so that I might come nearer to you! We are born to do benefits—and what better or properer can we call our own than the riches of our friends?

“Oh, what a precious comfort ’tis, to have so many like brothers commanding one another’s fortunes!”

He wants to say more, but his voice is choked with emotion. “Oh,” he adds, “joy has made away even ere ’t can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold back water, methinks,” he says, tears welling. “To forget their faults, I drink to you!”

- Apemantus shakes his head. Thou weepest to make drink for them, Timon!

“Joy had the like conception in our eyes!” claims another lord, lifting his cup. “And at that instant,” he says, wiping an eye, “came out like a baby!”

A horn’s tucket sounds at the front of the great hall. Soon, Flavius comes to the host and bows.

“What means that trumpet?” asks Timon. “How now?”

“Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance.”

“Ladies! What are their wills?”

“There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, who bears the office of signifying their pleasures.”

“I pray, let them be admitted,” says Timon, and the steward signals for the visitors to enter.

The first to appear is a young dancer, this evening in the guise of a concupiscent Cupid, his muscles glistening with a sheen of lotion. “Hail to thee, worthy Timon!” cries the youth, “and to all that taste of his bounties!

Cupid speaks to the musicians, and they play as he has directed. He dashes to the doors, and returns leading a masque: ladies clothed provocatively as Amazon warriors. They dance in colorful swirls before the delighted company.

As the lords beam and clap, Apemantus scowls. Hoy-day! What a sweep of vanity comes this way! They dance!—they are mad-women!

Such madness is the glory of this life, as this pomp shows to a little oil and root! —compared with his simple fare. We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves, and spend our flatteries drinking to those men upon whose age we will spit it up again with poisonous spite and envy! Who lives that’s not depravèd, nor deprives?—who dies that bears not to the grave one spurning of his friend?

He watches Timon, who is looking out happily over the celebrants. I should fear that those that dance before me now would one day stamp upon me! It has been done: men shut their doors against a setting sun.

The lords rise from the tables, and each singles out an Amazon; then all join in dancing to the strains of lutes and hautboys.

Timon speaks to a servant, who bows and hurries away. Calls the host, “You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies!—set a fair fashion on our entertainment, which was not half so beautiful and kind! You have added worth unto’t, and lustre, and entertained me with mine own device! I am to thank you for’t!”

One glowing lady protests modestly: “My lord, you take us for the best!”

Apemantus concurs, sourly: In faith!—for the worst is not filthy, and would withhold taking, —resist seduction— I suspect!

Timon points toward a room beyond, where fruit, cheese and wine are being set out, as he had just directed. “Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you! Please you to dispose yourselves!”

There follows considerable curtseying. “Most thankfully, my lord!” the Amazons reply, as they, their lithe Cupid, and their new companions move away to enjoy the repast.

Timon calls his steward. “Flavius!”

“My lord?”

“The little casket bring me hither.”

“Yes, my lord.” More jewels yet! thinks Flavius, as he goes to fetch the brass-bound wooden box of precious stones. He has been in Timon’s service since before the war. There is no crossing him in’s humour, else I would tell him well! I’ faith I should!—when all is spent, he’d be ‘crossèd’ then—if he could! His sour jest: that Timon will miss the crucifix-stamped gold coins.

’Tis pity his bounty has not eyesbehind, so the man might ne’er be wretched for his mind! He hurries past several patricians who are already preparing to depart.

“Where be our men?” one is demanding.

A servant by the side door bows. “Here, my lord, in readiness.”

Another noblemen commands, “Our horses!”

But Timon has joined them, to bid them farewell; Flavius brings him the casket.

“O my friends, I have one word to say to you!” says Timon. “Look you, my good lord, I must entreat you, honour me so much as to advance.” Lord Lucius steps toward him. “This jewel—accept it and wear it, kind my lord!”

The recipient is pleased. “I am so far already in your gifts—”

“So are we all!” says another guest.

A boy from the stable trots in and bows to Timon. “My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate newly alighted, and come to visit you!”

“They are fairly welcome!”

“I beseech Your Honour, vouchsafe me a word,” pleads Flavius quietly, as the lad goes to bring in a new round of visitors. “It does concern you near”—personally.

“Near? Why then, another time I’ll hear thee,” says Timon, carelessly. “I prithee, let us be provided to show them entertainment!”

Hurrying, almost out of breath, an elderly servant has come up from the stable. “May it please Your Honour, LordLucius, out of his free love, hath presented to you four milk-white horses, with trappings of silver!”

“Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman LordLucullus entreats your company tomorrow to hunt with him—and has sent Your Honour two brace of greyhounds!”

Timon is very pleased with the judge’s gifts. “I’ll hunt with him; and let them be receivèd not without fair reward!”

Now alarmed even further, Flavius frets: What will this come to? He commands us to provide, and gives great gifts—and all out of an empty coffer!

Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this: to show him what a beggar his heart is, being of no power to make his wishes good! His promises fly so far beyond his state that what he speaks is all indebt!—he owes for every word!

He is so kind that he now pays interest for’t! His land is put onto their books!

Well I would I were gently put out of office before I were forcèd out!

He looks around the boisterous hall, still teeming with sated sycophants. Happier is he that has no friend to feed, than such as do e’en enemies exceed!

I bleed inwardly for my lord.

He goes to see to the stabling of Timon’s new horses and the kenneling of his four new racing hounds.

Timon addresses his departing guests. “You do yourselves much wrong: you abate too much of your own merits!” he tells a senator. “Here, my lord, a trifle of our love!” He offers a precious gemstone, glinting in his hand.

“With more-than-common thanks I will receive it!”

Says another lord, watching, “Oh, he’s the very soul of bounty!”

Timon regards Sempronius, another prominent Athenian. “And now I remember, my lord, that you gave good words the other day of a bay courser I rode on. It is yours because you liked it!”

“Oh, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that!”

“You may take my word, my lord: I know that no man can justly praise but what he does affect; and I weigh my friend’s affection with mine own! I’ll tell you true: I so call you!”

“Oh, none so welcome!” says Sempronius, as the guests crowd around them.

Timon tells the men congregated at his doors, “I take yours, and all several visitations, so kindly to heart that ’tis not enough to give! Methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends, and ne’er be weary!”

He sees that his friend the general—who has recently conquered just such realms for Athens—is downcast. “Alcibiades, thou art a soldier, and therefore seldom rich; life comes uncharitably to thee, for all thy living is ’mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast lie in a pitchèd field”—under tents.

Apemantus approaches the prince of philanthropy. “What a broil’s here!—serving of beaks, and jutting-out of butts! I doubt whether their legs be worthy the sums that are given for ’em! Methinks false hearts should never have sound legs,”—ones able to kneel, “since honest fools lay out their wealth for court’sies!

“Friendship’s full of dregs!”—a drink fouled with sediment.

Timon chuckles, and amiably claps an arm around the aging philosopher’s frail shoulders. “Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be good to thee!”

“No. I’ll have nothing,” says Apemantus. “For if I should be bribèd, too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then thou wouldst sin the faster!

Timon laughs. “Nay, once you begin to rail on society, I am sworn not to give regard to you! Farewell!—and come with better music!” He leaves the hall, and happily climbs the wide stairs to his luxurious living quarters.

Outside, the servants are still busy on the torch-lighted portico, seeing off the guests. Apemantus stands alone in the hall, surveying garbage-laden tables, the dozens of extinguished candles.

The following afternoon, Lord Sempronius sits at home, perturbed. He takes steps to stay abreast of the affairs of those who owe others considerable sums of money—and especially one such debtor, Lord Timon.

He examines again the paper in his hands. To Varro and to Isidore he owes nine thousand, besides my former sum—which makes the total five and twenty! And lately, five thousand!

Still in a motion of raging waste! It cannot hold!—it will not!

He is appalled by the nobleman’s extravagant generosity. If I want gold, steal but a beggar’s dog and give it to Timon; why, the dog coins gold! If I would sell my horse and buy two more, better than it, why, give my horse to Timon—ask nothing, give it him—and it foals me straight astable of horses!

No porter is at his gate, but rather one who smiles and ever invites all that pass by!

It cannot hold! No reasoning can sound his state with assurance!

“Caphis, ho!Caphis, I say!”

“Here, sir,” says the servant, coming into the room. “What is your pleasure?”

“Get on your cloak, and hasten you to Lord Timon! Importune him for mymoneys! And be not ceasèd with slight denial, nor silenced by ‘Commend me to your master.’” He frowns, pointing at the lethargic servant: “With the cap playing in your right hand thus.

“But tell him my uses cry to me!”—his own obligations are in arrears. “I must serve my turn”—pay what he owes—“out of mineown! His days and times are past, and my reliances on his fracted dates have smited my credit!

“I love and honour him, but must not break myback to heal his finger! Immediate are my needs, and my relief must not be tossed in return to me in words, but must find immediate supply!

“Get you gone. Put on a most importunate aspect, a visage of demand! For I do fear that when every feather sticks in its own wing,”—money has been paid where it’s due, “Lord Timon, who flashes now as a phoenix, will be left a naked gull! Get you gone!”

“I go, sir.” Caphis bows and turns toward the door, but the senator grabs his arm.

Says the annoyed lord, mocking, “‘I, go, sir!’ Take the bonds along with you!—and have the dates’ income!”—collect interest, too. Usury is considered wrong, but the rich generously excuse themselves for profiting by it.

In a corridor of Lord Timon’s great house, Flavius paces, waiting for his master to return for the noon meal; the steward’s hands are full of new letters demanding payment for goods and services.

No care, no stop!—so insensible to expense that he will neither know how to maintain it, nor cease his flow of riot!—takes no account how things go from him, nor adopts any care about what is coming! Never was there such a mind—to be so unwise to be so kind!

What shall be done? He will not hear till he feel!—I must be round with him! Now he comes from hunting! Fie, fie, fie, fie!

Just outside the mansion, Caphis arrives to find two other men, servants of Lords Isidore and Varro, already waiting. He greets one, calling him, as is their custom, by the name of the man’s master. “Good even, Varro! What, you come for money?”

“Is’t not your business, too?”

“It is! And yours, too, Isidore?”

Lord Isidore’s servant nods. “It is so.”

Caphis dislikes such pestering. “Would we were all dischargèd”—paid what’s due.

Caphis bows. “My lord, here is a note of certain dues….” He shows Timon the bonds.

“Dues!” laughs Timon. “Whence are you?”

“Of Athens, here, my lord.”

Timon waves him away, not unkindly. “Go to my steward.”

But Caphis is insistent. “Please it Your Lordship, he hath put me off for the succession of nine days this month! My master is awakened by great occasion to call upon hisown—and humbly prays you that you’ll suit with your other noble parts in giving him his right.”

“Give me breath!” cries Timon. He calls to his guests, who are now approaching the house. “I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; I’ll wait upon you instantly.”

His fellow fox-hunters go inside, passing Flavius as he emerges to look for his master.

Timon motions to him. “Come hither! Pray you, how goes the world, that I am thus encountered with clamourous demands of date-broken bonds, and the detention of long-since-due debts, against my honour?”

Flavius addresses the visiting servants. “Please you, gentlemen, the time is unagreeable to this business! Your importunacy cease till after dinner, so that I may make his lordship understand wherefore you are not paid.”

“Pray, draw near,” the steward tells Timon. He speaks quietly as the two of them enter the mansion at the front.

“Stay, stay!” Caphis tells the others, who are about to follow. He will be happy to receive a meal from Timon’s celebrated kitchen—and now he foresees amusement. “Here comes a fool with Apemantus! Let’s ha’ some sport with ’em!”

“Hang him,” says Varro’s servant. “He’ll abuse us!”

“A plague upon him—the dog!” mutters Isidore’s man.

Apemantus and a jester—servant to one of Alcibiades’ officers, the disgraced captain—walk purposefully toward Timon’s home.

Varro’s man pointedly ignores Apemantus. “Fool, how dost?”

Apemantus looks puzzled. “Dost dialogue with thy shadow?”

The servant frowns. “I speak not to thee.”

“No, ’tis to thyself!” Apemantus urges his companion, “Come away.”

Isidore’s servant tells the jester, “There’s the fool!—hung on your back already!”—like a sign to humiliate a prisoner.

“She’s e’en now setting water upon fire,” the man replies mildly, “to scald such chickens as you are!”—implying, too, that they need hot baths to treat venereal ills. “Would we could see you at Corinth!”—known for its prostitution.

“Why, how now, captain!” says the pert lad of twelve to the fool. “What do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?”

“I would I had a switch in my mouth,” says he, with schoolmasterly severity, “so that I might answer thee profitably!”

The boy shows him two papers, each folded and sealed with a blob of red wax. “Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters. I know not which is which.”

“Canst not read?”

“No.”

Apemantus rolls his eyes. “There will little learning die, then, the day thou art hanged.” He examines the letters. “This is to Lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou’lt die a bawd”—a go-between.

The page grins at the slender man. “Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish!—a dog’s death! Answer not,” he laughs, “I am gone!” He runs to the house, to deliver his master’s desperate pleas to Timon and Alcibiades.

“E’en so!” says Apemantus dryly; he calls after the boy, “Thou outrunnest grace!”—me. But he and the jester have come to plead as well; he starts forward. “Fool, I will take you to Lord Timon’s.”

“Will you leave me there?” asks the fool; his present master’s household may be breaking up.

Apemantus nods, but with a frown. “If Timon stay at home.” He turns to the waiting minions. “You three serve three usurers?”

“I think no usurer has but a fool as his servant,” the clown opines. “My mistress is one,”—who profits from interest, “and I am her fool!”

He wants to learn what they have heard of his captain’s plight. “When men come to borrow from your masters, they approach sadly and go away merry;but they enter my master’s house merrily and go away sadly. The reason for this?”

But Apemantus takes that comment as a ribald one concerning sated, tired customers. “Do it then,” he growls, “that we may account thee a whoremaster and a knave!—notwithstanding which thou shalt be no less esteemèd!”

Varro’s servant challenges: “What is a whoremaster, fool?” he demands.

“A fool in good clothes—something like thee,” says the clown. “’Tis a spirit: sometimes it appears like a lord; sometime like a lawyer; sometime like an alchemist—with two stones more than his artificer’s one!”—testicles, in addition to the magical philosopher’s stone.

The jester continues: “He is very often like the knight,”—errant in two senses. “And generally in all shapes that Man goes up and down in, from thirteen to fourscore, this spirit walks in!”—a lifetime of tumefaction.

Varro’s man chuckles. “Thou art not altogether a fool….”

“Nor thou altogether a wise man,” retorts the clown. “As much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest!”

His old friend is delighted. “That answer might have become Apemantus!”

“Aside, aside!” says Caphis. “Here comes Lord Timon!” The creditors’ three servants motion the other two men away.

The clown nods. “I do not always follow lover, elder, brother and woman; sometimes the philosopher!” he notes grandly. He trails after Apemantus.

At a rear door, the two iconoclasts enter the house brought to ruin by folly, even as its master and major-domo emerge from the front.

“Pray you, walk near,” Flavius tells the agents, motioning for them to go into the house for a noon meal. “I’ll speak with you anon.” The would-be collectors move inside briskly.

“You make me marvel!” Timon tells him. “Wherefore ere this time have you not fully laid my state before me, that I might so have rated my expense as I had leave of means?”

“Youwould nothearme! At many leisures I proposed to!” cries Flavius.

“Go to!” Timon’s eyes narrow with suspicion. “Perchance some individualvantages you took, and when my indisposition put you back, that unaptness made you minister thus to excuse yourself!”

“Oh, my good lord, at many times I brought in my accounts!—laid them before you! You would throw them off, and say you found in them mine honesty!

“When for some trifling present you have bid me send so much in return that I have shook my head and wept!—yea, ’gainst the authority of manners, prayed you to hold your hand more closèd!—I did endure checks”—rebukes—“not seldom nor slight when I have prompted you about the ebb of your estate, and your great flow of debts!

“My belovèd lord, though you hear now, yet now’s a time when the greatest of your having lacks of half to pay your present debts!”

Lord Timon is decisive. “Let all my land be sold.”

Flavius moans. “’Tis all engagèd!—some forfeited and gone! And what remains will hardly stop themouth of present dues! The future comes apace!—what shall defend the interim? And atlength? How goes your reckoning?”

Timon is stunned. “To Lacedaemon did my land extend!”

“Oh, my good lord, the world is but a word!—were it all yours to give in a breath, how quickly were it gone!”

Timon starts to retort, but then he pauses—and pales. “You tell me true,” he admits.

Poor Flavius is near tears. “If you suspect my husbandry of falsehood, call me before the exactest auditors and set me on to proof!

“So the gods bless me,” he says earnestly, “when all our offices”—servants’ duties—“have been oppressèd with riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept with drunken spilth of wine, when every room hath blazed with lights and brayed with minstrelsy, I have retired me to a wasteful tap”—an empty wine-barrel—“and set mine eyes at flow!”

Timon looks down, very discomfited. “Prithee, no more.”

Flavius, exasperated, vents frustration: “‘Heavens,’ have I said, ‘the bounty of this lord! How many prodigal bites have slaves and peasants this night englutted! Who is not Timon’s?—what heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord Timon’s?Great Timon—noble, worthy, royal Timon!’

“Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise, the breath is gone whereof this praise is made! Fast-won, fast-lost! With the first winter shower, these flies are gone!”

“Why dost thou weep? Canst thou lack awareness, thus to think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart! If I would broach the vessels of my love, and try the argument of hearts by borrowing, men and men’s fortunes could I use as freely as I can bid thee speak!”

Flavius wipes his eyes. “May confirmation bless your thoughts!”

Timon is smiling. “And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crownèd, in that I account them blessings: for by these shall I try friends! You shall perceive how you mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends!

“Within, there!” he calls, toward the open front doors, where several of his servants stand, waiting. “Flaminius! Servilius!” They hurry out to him and bow.

“My lord?” says Flaminius.

“I will dispatch you severally: you to Lord Lucius; to Lord Lucullus you—I hunted with his honour today. You, to Sempronius. Commend me to their loves, and say I am proud that my occasions have found a time to use ’em toward a supply of money.” He thinks. “Let the request be fifty talents.”

Flaminius gulps, and blinks several times, amazed at the huge sum—to be asked of each. But he nods. “As you have said, my lord.” The other servants hurry back into the house to write notes stating the requests, and to find strong boxes in which to bring back the money. They soon set off on their quests.

Flavius has reason to be worried. Lords Lucius and Lucullus?Hmm….

Timon has served Athens well, as a civilian and as a warrior; he is well regarded by its governing nobles. “Go you, sir, to the senators,” he tells Flavius, “from whom, even unto the state’s best health, I have deservèd this hearing! Bid ’em send on the instant a thousand talents to me!”

The steward stares, stricken; now he must tell Timon the worst news. “I have been so bold—for that I knew it the most gentle way—as with them to use your signet and your name; but they do shake their heads,” he reports, flushing, “and I am here no richer in return!”

Timon is astounded. “Is’t true? Can it be?”

“They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, that now they are at a fall, lack treasure, cannot do what they would, are sorry. You are honourable…. But yet they could have wishèd…. They know not…. Something hath been amiss…. A noble nature may catch a wrenching…. Would all were well…. ’Tis pity….

“You gods, reward them!” says Timon indignantly. He thinks for a moment, then signals to the house to summon another servant.

He tells Flavius, “Prithee, man, look cheerly! These old fellows have their ingratitude in them hereditarily. Their blood is cakèd—’tis cold; it seldom flows; ’tis for lack of kindly warmth they are not kind! And a nature, as it grows again toward earth,”—approaches death, “is fashioned for the journey: dull and heavy!”

The servant reaches them. “Go to Ventidius—” Timon begins. He sees the steward’s look of despair. “Prithee, be not sad,” he tells Flavius kindly, “thou art true and honest! Ingenuously I speak: no blame belongs to thee.”

He tells the other servant, “Ventidius lately buried his father, by whose death he’s stepped into a great estate. When he was poor, imprisoned, and in scarcity of friends, I cleared him with five talents. Greet him from me; bid him suppose some good necessity touches his friend, who craves to be remembered with those five talents.” The man pales; but he bows and goes.

Timon turns back to Flavius. “That had, give’t these fellows to whom ’tis immediately due,” he says calmly. “Ne’er speak, nor think, that Timon’s fortunes ’mong his friends can sink!” he says confidently, giving the steward a pat on the back. He goes into the mansion to dine. He, Alcibiades, and the other lords still have a delightful afternoon of riding ahead.

Flavius follows him in, slowly. I would I could not think it!

That thought is Bounty’s woe: being generous itself, it thinks all others so!

Chapter Four

Friends Reply

A servant comes to Flaminius, who has been waiting in the judge’s home. “I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.”

“I thank you, sir.”

The servant hears a heavy tread on the stairs. “Here’s my lord.”

One of Lord Timon’s men? thinks Lucullus happily. A gift, I warrant! Why, this hits right—I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer last night! He enters the parlor. “Flaminius, honest Flaminius! You are very respectfully welcome, sir!” He motions to his own servant. “Fill me some wine.”

Lord Lucullus is ebullient. “And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?”

“His health is well sir.”

“I am right glad that his health is well, sir! And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?” asks the judge eagerly.

“’Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my lord’s behalf, I come to entreat Your Honour to supply. Having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, he hath sent to Your Lordship to furnish him, nothing doubting your present assistance therein.”

Lucullus is taken aback. “My, my, my, my! ‘Nothingdoubting,’ says he?”—regarding fiftytalents! He paces, glancing at the floor. “Alas, good lord—a noble gentleman ’tis—if he would not keep so good a house! Many a time and often I ha’ dined with him, and told him of it, and come to him again at supper for the purpose of having him spendless! And yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming….”

He shakes his head. “Every man has his fault, and generosity is his! I ha’ told him of’t, but I could ne’er get him from ’t.”

The servant has returned with a tray. “Please it Your Lordship, here is the wine.”

Lucullus hands a cup to Timon’s man. “Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here’s to thee!” He takes a much-needed gulp. Fiftytalents!

Lucullus regards him thoughtfully. “I have observed thee always for a towardly prompted spirit, to give thee thy due, and one that knows what belongs to reason—and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well. Good parts in thee!” He waves his servant away. “Get you gone, sirrah.” The man goes to attend to his duties—out of earshot.

“Draw nearer, honest Flaminius,” says Lucullus cordially. “Thy lord’s a bountiful gentleman… but thou art wise, and thou knowest well enough, although thou comest to me, that this is no time to lend money!—especially upon bare friendship, without security.

“Here’s three solidares for thee!” he says, pulling the small silver coins from his heavy pouch. He smiles. “Good boy, wink with me, and say thou sawest me not. Fare thee well!”

Flaminius stares at the money, anger rising; he sets his cup on a table. “Is’t possible the world should so much differ?—are we alive that lived? Fly, damnèd baseness,” he cries, flinging the silver at the nobleman, “to him who worships thee!”

The coins settle on the floor. “May those add to the number that scald thee!” says Flaminius, furious. “Let molten coin be thy damnation, thou disease of a friend, and not its self!”

He storms from the house. Has friendship such a faint and milky heart that it turns in less than two nights?

O you gods, I feel my master’s passion!

He looks back in disgust. This slave, unto his honour, has my lord’s meat in him—why should it thrive and turn to nutriment, when he is turned to poison? Oh, may diseasesonly work upon’t!

And, when he’s sick to death, let not that part of nature which my lord paid for be of any power to expel sickness—but prolong its hour!

Lord Lucius and three older gentlemen—two who prosper by handling others’ goods on land, and a ship’s captain from Sicily—stroll through a public square near the Senate after enjoying a heavy lunch together this afternoon.

“Who, the Lord Timon?” says Lucius. “He is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman!”

“We know him for no less,” say the fleet magnate, “though we are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon’s happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.”

The owner of vast warehousing stops. “But believe you this, my lord: that not long ago one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrowfifty talents!—nay, urgedextremely for’t, and showed what necessity belonged to’t—and yet was denièd!”

“What?” Young Lucius is aware of the judge’s great wealth—and of the many gifts Timon has rained upon him.

The warehouse proprietor confirms: “I tell you, denied, my lord!”

“What a strange case was that!” mutters Lucius. “Now, before the gods, I am ashamed on’t! Denied that honourable man? There was very little honour showed in’t!

“For my own part, I must needs confess I have received some small kindnesses from him—as money, plate, jewels, and such-like trifles—nothing comparing to this. Yet, had Timon not mistook himself, and had sent instead to me, I should ne’er have denied his occasion for fifty talents”—spoken as if it were a trifling amount.

As the gentlemen walk on, Timon’s man dashes into the square and peers around at the many faces. He spots Lucius. See!—by good hap, yonder’s my lord! I have sweated to see his honour!

“Ah! What has he sent?” says Lucius, slowing his pace. “I am so much endeared to that lord!—he’s ever sending! How shall I thank him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?”

Servilius hands him a note. “He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord: requesting Your Lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents.”

Lord Lucius stops, unfolds the paper, and reads. “I know his lordship is but merry with me! He cannot want fif— five hundred talents!” He assumes that the servant is illiterate.

“But in the meantime,” says Servilius dryly, “he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous, I should not urge it half so faithfully!” he says, wiping his forehead with a kerchief.

“Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?”

“Upon my soul, ’tis true, sir!”

Lucius suddenly seems quite distraught. “What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself,” he moans, striking his own forehead, “against such a good time when I might ha’ shown myself honourably! How unluckily it happened that I should purchase onthe daybefore!—for a littlepart to undo a great deal of honour!

“Servilius, now, before the gods, I am not able to do it! The more beastly, I say, I was sending to use Lord Timon”—to borrow from him—“myself!—these gentlemen can witness! But now I would not for the wealth of Athens do ’t!

“Commend me bountifully to his good lordship,” he urges apologetically, “and I hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me, because I have no power to be kind.”

He thinks for a moment. “And tell him this from me: I count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman.

“Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far as to use mine own words to him?”

Turning his hands together fretfully, Lucius regard his associates in Mediterranean trade. “True as you said! Timon is shrunk indeed—and he that’s once denied will hardly speed!” This second denial will not help; but he doesn’t say so.

Lucius takes polite leave of the others, and hastens away to confer with some other influential Athenians.

“Do you observe this, Hostilius?” asks the older gentleman.

“Aye, too well!” says the seafarer.

“Well, this is the world’s soul,” says the graybeard sadly, “and of just the same piece is every flatterer’s spirit! Who can call him his friend who dips in that same dish? For, in my knowing, Timon has been this lord’s father, and kept his credit with his purse, supported his estate—aye, Timon’s money has paid his men their wages! He ne’er drinks but Timon’s silver treads upon his lip; and yet….

“Oh, see the monstrousness of Man when he looks out in an ungrateful shape!

“He does deny him, in respect of this, what charitable men afford to beggars!”

The captain nods. “Religion groans at it.”

“As for mine own part, I never tasted of Timon’s bounties in my life, nor came any of his over me to mark me for his friend,” says the silver-haired gentleman. “Yet I protest, for his right-noble mind, illustrious virtue and honourable carriage, had his necessity made use of me, I would have put my wealth into donation!” They walk down toward the docks. “And the besthalf I should have turned to him, so much I love his heart!” the shipper amends.

Thinks the sea captain, I perceive now but that men must learn with pity to dispense—for policy sits above conscience!

“Must he needs trouble me in ’t—eh?—’bove all others?” whines Lord Sempronius, standing at his doorsill. “He might have tried Lord Lucius—or Lucullus—and now Ventidius is wealthy, too, whom he redeemèd from prison. All these owe their estates unto him….”

“My lord, they have all been touched—and found base metal,” says Flaminius, “for they have all denied him.”

Sempronius is stunned. “What?—have they denied him? Have Ventidius and Lucullus denied him? And does he send to me?” Pondering, he looks away, up the hill from his mansion; in the distance, he can see the new Temple of Athena, the compassionate and generous goddess.

After a moment he grumbles, “Third!Hmh! It shows but little love or judgment in him. Must I be his last refuge?

“His friends thrive like physicians—giving up on him! Must I take the cure upon me?

“He has much disgraced me in’t!” the senator argues. “I’m angry at him, who might have known my place! I see no sense for’t but that his occasion might have wooed mefirst!—for it’s my understanding that I was the first man that e’er received gifts from him!

“And does he think so backwardly of me now, that I’ll requite it last?

“No!” he tells Flaminius. “If I did so, it might prove an argument of laughter to the rest, and ’mongst lords I be thought a fool!

“I’d rather than the worth of thrice the sum that he had sent to mefirst!” claims Sempronius. “If but for my mind’s sake, I’d had such a courage then to do him good!

“But now, return—and with their faint reply this answer join: who abates mine honour shall not know my coin!” He steps back into the house to nurse his wounded feelings—and he shuts the door firmly.

He thinks, wryly, The Devil knew what he did when he made Man politic—but he crossed himself by ’t! I cannot think but that, in the end, the villainies of Man will set him clear!

If men are responsible for their choices, Satan is not to blame for their damnation.

How fairly this lord strives, only to appear foul!—takes virtuous courses to be wicked, like those who under hot, ardent zeal would set whole realms on fire! Of such a nature is his politic love!

Flaminius stands, dejected, on the stone porch.

This was my lord’s best hope; now all are fled, save only the gods! Now his friends are dead!

Doors that were ne’er acquainted with their warders for many a bounteous year must now be employed to guard their master secure.

And this is all a generouscourse allows: who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house!—stay inside, hidden.

Just outside the tall, white front doors of the debtor’s home, two of Lord Varro’s men and one of Lord Lucius’s arrive to find servants already sent by other noble creditors—all waiting, in a jocund mood, for Timon to venture out.

“Aye, and I think one business does command us all—for mine is money.”

Titus’s man nods, glancing at the rest. “So is theirs, and ours.”

Lucius’s welcomes the latest bill collector. “And Sir Philotus too!”

“Good day, all at once,” says the knight’s page, sixteen, smiling around at the others.

Lucius’s servant is impatient “Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour?”

“Labouring for nine.”

“So much?”

“Is not my lord seen yet?” asks Philotus’s boy.

“Not yet.”

“I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven!”

“Aye, but the days are waxèd shorter with him,” notes Lucius’s servant sourly. “You must consider that a prodigal’s course is like the sun’s—but not, like its, recoverable! I fear ’tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; that is, one may reach deep enough, and yet find little.”

“I am of your fear for that,” says the page.

Titus’s man, here since dawn, is perturbed. “I’ll show you how to observe a strange event,” he offers. “Your lord sends now for money….”

“Most true, he does.” Hortensius’s emissary nods, as do the others.

“—but they now wear jewels of Timon’s gift—for which we wait for the money!”

Hortensius’s man feels the irony. “It is against my heart,” he admits.

“Mark how strange it shows,” adds Lucius’s collector, “that Timon in this should paymore than he owes!—e’en as our lords wear rich jewels and send for money for ’em!”

Hortensius’s agent confesses, “I’m wary of this charge, the gods can witness! I know my lord hath spent of Timon’s wealth; and now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth!”

Servilius appeals to their kinder natures. “If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from’t; for, take’t on my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent! His comfortable temper has forsook him; he’s much out of health, and keeps to his chamber.”

Lucius’s man scoffs. “Many who keep their chambers are not sick! And, if he be so far beyond his health, methinks he should thesooner pay his debts, and make a clear way to the gods!”

Servilius looks up. “Goodgods!” he cries sorrowfully.

“We cannot take this for answer, sir!” insists Titus’s man.

Inside the house, coming through his front hall and headed toward the door, Lord Timon is annoyed to find a servant stepping forward to detain him; he strides past brusquely.

Timon, outside, finds several men surging toward him. “What, are my doors opposed against my passage? Have I been always free, yet must my house be my retentive enemy, my jail? The place in which I have feasted—does it now, like all mankind, show me an iron heart?”

Lucius’s man urges another of the servants: “Putin now, Titus!”

The man does so, saying, “My lord, here is my bill!”

“Here’s mine!”—and thus Lucius can deny that his servant was first to demand.

“And mine, my lord,” says Hortensius’s man.

“And ours, my lord,” adds Varro’s senior servant.

Sir Philotus’s boy and the others hold out papers. “All our bills!”

“Knock me down with ’em!” cries Timon angrily—as if they brandished the heavy, wide-bladed spears called bills. “Cleave me to the middle!”

“Tear me, take me, and may the gods fall upon you!” growls Timon, pushing them aside and storming away.

The servants exchange dour glances.

“’Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money!” says Hortensius’s man. “These debts may well be called ‘desperate’ ones,”—a legal term for those that can’t be collected, “for a madman owes ’em!”

One by one they drift away. None relishes delivering such bad news to his master.

—

Timon returns empty-handed from town, livid with anger, and followed again by Flavius. “They have put e’en my breath from me, the slaves! Creditors?—devils!”

“My dear lord—” the steward begins.

But Timon stares at the pavement, already pondering an idea. “What if it should be so…?”

“My lord—”

“I’ll have it so!” He looks up. “My steward!”

“Here, my lord.”

Timon is warming to his scheme. “So fitly!” he cries. “Go!—bid all my friends again—Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius! All, sirrah, all! I’ll once more feast the rascals!”

Flavius, wide-eyed, is dismayed. “Oh, my lord, you only speak from your distracted soul!—there is not so much left as to furnish out a moderate table!”

“Let in the tide of knaves once more! My cook and I will provide!” he says, with a fierce grin.

Chapter Five

Called to Judgment

In the Athenian Senate, the matter of Alcibiades’ captain is under stern consideration.

“My lord, you have my voice to it,” a senior senator tells the presiding nobleman, seconding a recommendation. “The fault’s bloody—’tis necessary he should die! Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy!”

“Most true,” says another senator. “The law shall bruise him!”

They pause as Alcibiades arrives, with several attendants. He greets them: “Honour, health—and compassion to the Senate!”

The old senator frowns. “What, captain?” he demands—with obvious contempt; he knows why the general has come.

Alcibiades steps forward to address the legislators. “I am an humble suitor to your virtues—for pity is a virtue of thelaw—and none but tyrants use it cruelly.

“It pleases time and fortune to lie heavily upon a friend of mine, who inhot blood hath steppèd into the law—which is past depth to those that without heed do plunge into’t.

“He is a man, setting this fate aside, of comely virtues. Nor did he soil the act”—the duel—“with cowardice, but with a noble fury and fair spirit—an honour in him which buys out his fault.

“Seeing his reputation touchèd to death, he did oppose his foe! And he did behoove his anger with such sober and unseen passion, ere ’twas spent, it appeared as if he had but proven an argument.” The duel was unavoidable, the general argues, and was handled with a solemn dignity.

“You undergo too strict a paradox,” says the presiding senator, “striving to make an ugly deed look fair! Your words have took such pains as if they laboured to bring manslaughter into form, and set quarrelling upon the head of valour, when it indeed is valour misbegot, and came into the world when sects and factions were newly born!”—the days of Cain and Abel.

“He’s truly valiant who can wisely suffer”—endure—“the worst that man can breathe, then make his wrongs his outsides, wearing them like his raiment, carelessly—and ne’er refer his injuries to his heart, bringing it into danger.

“If wrongs be evils that force us to kill, what folly ’tis to hazard life for ill!”

“My lord—” says Alcibiades.

“You cannot make gross sins look clear! To revenge is not valour; only to bear.”

Alcibiades regards the sleekly groomed and well-fed solons, and tries another tack. “My lords, then, under favour, pardon me if I speak like a captain!

“Why do foolish men expose themselves to battle?—why not endure all threat—sleep upon’t—and without repugnance let the foes quietly cut their throats!

“If there be such valour in the bearing, what make we abroad? Why, the women are more valiant that stayathome, if bearing carry it!—and the ass more captain than the lion—the fellow loaden with irons”—the shackled prisoner—“wiser than the judge, if wisdom be in waiting!

“Oh, my lords, as you are great, be pitying and good! Who cannot condemn rashness;in cold blood to kill, I grant, is sin’s extremest gust. But indefence—under mercy, ’tis most just!

“To be in anger is impiety; but who is the man that is never angry?

“Weigh but the crime with this!” he pleads.

The haughty young senator shakes his head. “You breathe in vain.”

“In vain!” says Alcibiades angrily. “Hisservices done at Lacedaemon and Byzantium were a sufficient briber for his life!”

The pompous old senator is startled by being contradicted. “What’sthat?”

“I say, my lords, he has donefairservice!—and slain in fight many of your enemies!” cries Alcibiades. “How full of valour did he bear himself in the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!”

“He has made toomuch plenty with ’em,” says the younger senator dryly. “He’s a sworn rioter! He has a sin that often drowns him,”—in wine, “and takes his valour prisoner! If there were no foes, that were enough to overcome him! In that beastly fury he has been known to commit outrages, and to cherish fraction!

“’Tis inferred by us that his days are foul, and his drinking dangerous!”

“He dies,” the senior senator rules.

“Hard Fate!” groans Alcibiades. “He might have died in war.

“My lords, if not for any parts in him—though his rightarm might purchase his own time, and be in debt to none!—yet, more to move you, take my deserts to his, and join ’em both! And, for I know your reverend ages love security, I’ll pawn to you my victories, all my honours, upon his good returns!”

Alcibiades sees their hard looks. “If by this crime he owes the law his life, why, let the war receive ’t in valiant gore; for law is strict—and war is nothing more!” If they will not pardon his friend, he proposes that they return the officer to service, for an honorable death in combat.

“We are for law,” says the bald old legislator coldly. “He dies; argue no more, on height of our displeasure! Friend or brother, he forfeits his own blood who spills another’s.”

“Must it be so?” Alcibiades look around the Senate, at the civilians who have sent him and his troops into many battles. “It must not be! My lords, I do beseech you—know me!”

Even the younger man is annoyed, hearing continued impertinence. “What?”

“Call me to your remembrances!”

Now a third senator voices indignation: “What?”

Alcibiades’ anger rises. “I cannot think but that your age has forgot me!—it could not else be that I should prove so base as to sue and be denied such common grace! My woundsache at you!”

“Do you dare our anger?” cries the presiding senator, seething. His face is set and grim. “’Tis few in words, but spacious in effect: we banish thee forever!”

The senator is furious. “If, after two days’ shine, Athens contain thee, attend our weightier judgment!” he warns. He closes the condemned soldier’s case: “And, not to swell our spirit, he shall be executed immediately!”

Alcibiades glares. “Now may the gods keep you old enough that you may live only in bone—so that none may look on you!” He stamps from the chamber.

Fuming, he stands outside, on the wide marble steps.

I’m worse than a madman: I have kept back their foes, while they have counted their money and lent out their coin upon large interest! I myself am rich only in largehurts!

All those for this? Is this the balm that the usuring Senate pours onto captains’ wounds?

Banishment! It comes not ill!—I hate not to be banished: it is a cause worthy my spleen and fury, that I may strike at Athens!

I’ll rouse up my discontented troops, and lay for hearts!

’Tis honour in most lands to be at odds: soldiers should brook as little wrong as gods!

As if nothing had changed, the dining hall of Lord Timon’s house is again resplendent late this afternoon: candles brighten the room, and livery-clad servants are busy at a long table laid for a feast worthy of the host’s reputation. A nobleman coming in from the front of the house can see that Fortune surely smiles here again.

Lord Lucius, already arrived, greets the newer guest. “The good time of day to you, sir.”

“I also wish it to you.” Lord Lucullus moves closer and lowers his voice. “I think this honourable lord did but try us this other day!”—test their loyalty.

“Upon that were my thoughts entirely, when we encountered,” says Lucius. “I’d hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem, in the trial of his several friends!”

The judge looks around, noting the table places, each elegantly furnished for supper. “It could not be, by the persuasion of this new feasting!”

“I should think so! He hath sent me an earnest invitation, which many more-dear occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them,” sighs Lucius in feigned resignation, “and I must needs appear.” He is already quite hungry—and there may well be gifts.

“In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business; but he would not hear my excuse! I am sorry that, when he sent to borrow of me, my provision was out,” Lucullus adds.

“I am sick with that grief, too, as I understand how all things go.”

Lucullus nods sadly “Every man bears it so.”

“What would he have borrowed of you?”

“A thousand pieces.”

Lucullus is impressed. “A thousand pieces!”

“What of you?”

“He sent to me, sir— Here he comes!”

“With all my heart, gentlemen both!” cries Lord Timon, approaching with Sempronius. He is especially glad to see the other two here. “And how fare you?”

Lucius smiles. “Ever at the best, hearing well of Your Lordship!”

Says Lucullus, “The swallow follows not summer more willing than we Your Lordship!”

Nor more willingly leavewinter, thinks Timon, such summer-birds are men! “Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long wait,” he says humbly, and motions toward the lutenist, playing at the side. “Feast your ears with the music awhile,” he says politely—adding, to himself, if they will partake of so harsh a sound as the trumpet’s! —the call to Judgment. “We shall to ’t presently!”

Lucius speaks quietly, warmly: “I hope it remains not unkindly with Your Lordship that I returned you an empty messenger….”

“Oh, sir, let it not trouble you.” Not yet.

Lucullus, too, would again offer regret. “My noble lord—”

“Ah, my good friend, what cheer?”

“My most honourable lord, I am e’en sick of shame, that, when Your Lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar!”

“Think not on ’t, sir,” Timon advises. Not just yet.

“If you had sent but two hours before—”

“Let it not encumber your better remembrances.” Timon addresses the room: “Come, bring in all together!” he calls.

His servants go quickly into the kitchen and return, led by Flavius, carrying gleaming silver trays. Under Timon’s direction, the table is soon burdened with heavy, steaming pans.

- Lucullus eagerly rubs his hands together in anticipation, as the other noblemen stand watching the servants work. “All covered dishes!”

- “Royal cheer, I warrant you!” says Lucius.

- “Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it!” says Sempronius.

- “How do you?” Lucius asks him, as they wait. “What’s the news?”

- “Alcibiades is banished. Hear you of it?”

- The others are surprised. “Alcibiades banished!” says Lucullus.

- “’Tis so;be sure of it.”

- Lucius is astonished. “How! How?”

- “I pray you, upon what?” asks his friend.

Lord Timon calls to them: “My worthyfriends, will you draw near?”

- “I’ll tell you more anon. Here’s a noble feast toward!”

- The judge beams “This is the old man still!”

- But Sempronius still frets: “Will ’t hold? Will ’t hold?”

- Lucullus shrugs, looking at the inviting tables. “It does… but time will— And so….”

- Sempronius nods. “I do conceive.” For now, they will take what they can.

“Each man to his stool,” cries Timon—enjoying a privately crude sarcasm, “with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress!

“Your diet shall be in all places alike,” he tells them, as the guests look to choose seats. “Make not a city feast of it, letting the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place! Sit, sit!”

As the men settle, he says, pointedly, “The gods require our thanks.” Then, in a new manner, he speaks an odd invocation: “You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness!

“Lend to each man just enough so that one need not lend to another—for were Your Godheads to borrow from men, men would forsakethe gods!” he cries, his voice rising.

“Make the meat be belovèd more than the man who gives it!

“Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains!” he demands—wryly: a score is twenty. “If there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be… as theyare!

“As for the rest of your fees, O gods: the senators of Athens, together with the common log of people—what is amiss in them, you gods, make suitable—fordestruction!” he shouts.

“As for these present, my friends,” growls Timon, “as they are nothing to me, so in nothing bless them—and to nothing are they welcome!”

He surveys the guests’ reddened faces. “Uncover, dogs, and lap!”

At the tables, lids are lifted, and the pans are found to be full—of warm water and stones.

The lords gape in puzzlement and indignation. “What does his lordship mean?” “I know not!” Chairs scrape back harshly as the three noblemen rise, throwing down napkins, and glaring at the harrying host.

“Steaming, lukewarm water is your perfection!”—essence, calls Timon. “May you never behold a better feast, you knot of mouth-friends!

“This is Timon’s last!” he cries, “who, daubed and spattered with your flattery, washes itoff, and sprinkles in your faces your reekingvillainy!” He seizes a large pan and hurls a stream of water at the heads of the startled lords. They back away, gasping, wiping their faces, brushing at their clothes.

“Shit,” mutters Sempronius; who doesn’t know? He peers beneath his table. “Did you see my cap?”—actually a very costly plumed hat.

Lucullus wipes at his water-spotted doublet. “I have lost my gown!”—his judicial robe, removed for enthusiastic dining, and left draped on his chair.

Lucius stands amazed. “He’s but a mad lord, and nought but mood sways him! He gave me a jewel th’ other day,” he says, indignantly, “and now he has beat it out of my hat! Did you see my jewel?” He kneels, then crawls around, searching, on the floor.

“Did you see my cap?”

“Here ’tis.” Lucullus hands it to Sempronius.

“Here lies my gown!”

Lucius rises, looking around fearfully. “Let’s make no stay….”

“Lord Timon’s mad!” says Lucullus.

Sempronius nods. “I feel ’t in my bones,” he says—wryly, rubbing the shoulder struck by a pan. “One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones!”

Alone at sunset, Timon pauses outside a high wall of gray stone, his fury unwaning.

Let me look back upon thee! he thinks, glad to have put the capital behind him. He tears off his clothing and, shouting invective, casts each item toward the city.

“O thou wall, that girdlest-in those wolves, dive into the earth, and fence not Athens!

“Matrons, turn incontinent!

Obedience, fail in children!

“Slaves and fools, pluck the grave, wrinkled Senate from the bench, and minister in their steads!

Flavius regards them mournfully. “Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you? Let me be recorded by the righteous gods, I am as poor as you!”

“Such a house, broken! So noble a master, fallen!” says the old man. “All gone! And not one friend to take his fortune by the arm, and go along with him.”

A cook shakes his head sadly. “As we do turn our backs from our companion thrown into his grave, so Lord Timon’s familiars to his buried fortune slink all away—leave with him their false vows like purses pickèdempty! And his poor self a dedicated beggar to the air, with his disease of all-shunnèd poverty, walks, like Contempt, alone.”

He sees several stable workers straggling in. “More of our fellows.”

“All broken implements of a ruined house,” moans Flavius.

“Yet do our hearts wear Timon’s livery!—that see I by our faces,” says the old porter. “We are fellows still, serving alike in sorrow! Leakèd is our ship, and we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck, hearing the surge’s threat! We must all part, into this sea of air….”

He unties a sack of coins, savings accumulated over years of service to a generous master. “Let each take some.” The younger men are hesitant. “Nay, put out all your hands!—not one word more!” He gives each of them part of his paltry sum. “Thus are we all: rich in sorrow, parting poor.”

The older servants embrace, the younger shake hands; and with thanks to Flavius, they depart, going their several ways.

The steward listens to the silence of the house, soon to be claimed by some of Timon’s many creditors, as they divide up his estate, claim his little remaining land.

Oh, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt, since riches point to misery and contempt? Who would be so mocked by glory?

Or live in but a dream of friendship?—to have his pomp and all which state compounds but only painted, like his varnishèd friends?

Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart, undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood, when a man’s worst sin is that he does too much good! Who then dares to be half so kind again?—for bounty that makes gods does ever mar men.

My dearest lord—blessèd, to be most accursed; rich, only to be wretched—thy great fortunes are made thy chief afflictions!

Alas, kind lord! He’s flung in rage from this ingrateful seat of monstrous friends; nor has he with him food to supply his life, or that which can command it!

I’ll follow and inquire him out. I’ll ever serve his mind with my best will; whilst I have gold, I’ll be his steward still!

Chapter Six

Gifts to the Purpose

The old pine woodland wends south, down to a narrow strip of sand along the craggy shore. Here Timon has found his new dwelling: a dank cavern carved, over countless centuries by the tides’ rhythmic contention with land, in the low Greek hillside.

Standing this morning at the sheltered mouth of the cave, he reflects on the state of mankind—and soon he begins to rail, shouting over the calm ocean toward a vast blue sky.

He paces. “Twinnèd brothers of one womb, whose procreation, residence, and birth are scarce dividant—touch them with differingfortunes, and make the greater scorn the lesser!

“Let rich natures—to whom may all sores lay siege!—bear great fortune but by contempt for Nature!

“Praise this beggar, and deny ’t that lord! The senator shall bear contempt hereditary, the beggar nativehonour! It is the pasture that lards the one brother’s sides, the want that makes the other lean!

“Who dares—who dares in the impurity of manhood?—to stand upright and say, ‘This man’s a flatterer’? If one be, so are they all!—for every guise of fortune is smoothèd”—with praise—“by that below it!

Screened from casual view from the shore by dry, weathered brush, the cave—in its long past, once a refuge for animals, sometimes for paupers, often for thieves—has provided a battered spade. Timon’s foot pushes its blade into the moist soil beneath a rocky ledge jutting toward the shore. “Earth, yield me root! Whoever seeks for better fromthee, saucehispalate with thy most operant poison!”

After considerable toil he uncovers and pulls up some edible roots. He also finds a rotting wooden lid.

What is here? he wonders, and digs further to unearth it. Using a rock, he breaks the corroded hasp of a big, antique lock. He unclasps the cover of the strong-box; rusting hinges creak as he pulls it open.

He kneels to gather his musty food, then rinses it in a pan of sea-water. He bites off a chunk and munches, looking at the box.

Countless wind-driven ships have traversed the beautiful blue Aegean, engaged in commerce among the Mediterranean’s many ports, and some more distant. Along this shore not far from Athens, robbers have long profited by interrupting the movement of goods and gold by such vessels. And pirates of old plied these coastal waters, seizing treasure no longer needed on the ships they left sinking, pulling murdered seamen toward the bottom with them.

Timon lifts a fistful of glistening gold coins, their canvas sacks long since decayed to mildewed fibers. Thus much of this will make black white, foul fair, wrong right, base noble, old young, coward valiant!

Hah, you gods!—why this?

He laughs, chiding. “What?—this, you gods! Why, this will lug your priests and servants from your sides!—pluck stout men’s pillows from below their heads! This yellow slave will knit and break religions!—bless the accursèd, make leprosy adored!—place thieves, and give them title, knee, and approbation with senators on the bench!

“This it is that makes the misshapen widow wedded again! She whose ulcerous sores the hospital-house would cast gorge at,”—vomit to see, “this embalms and spices into an April day again!”

He addresses the malleable metal: “Come, damnèdearth—thou common whore of mankind, that put’st quarrels among the routes of nations, I will make thee do thy right nature!” He tosses the coins back into the iron-bound box, and, struggling with the weight, drags it into the cave.

He ponders the work of the callous prisoner that outlives all jailers.

Timon is startled by a noise: A drum? He can hear a military cadence coming from a distance down the shore.

“Nay, stay thou out as earnest”—as a first payment, he mutters, slipping some of the money into his coat pockets. With both hands he scoops up coins, still smooth and glossy despite the many decades of burial. He steps back into the sunlight and spills them onto a wide, flat rock, next to his few roots.

Then he manages to tug the heavy chest even further into shadow, to the rise at the very end of the cave; he hides the box with dead leaves and branches.

Outside again, looking down the shore from behind some straggling brush, Timon is surprised to see Alcibiades, dressed for battle and leading a wide, long column of many well armed soldiers. All are marching, to drum and fife, toward the old road north to Athens.

Alcibiades signals for his troops to halt. As he sends scouts to check the route ahead, he spots someone lurking in the bramble. He approaches boldly. “What art thou there? Speak!”

Alcibiades pushes through the dry bushes and sees a man who is half naked. “What is thy name? Is Man so hateful to thee, who art thyself a man?”

“I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind! For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, that I might love thee somewhat.”

Alcibiades recognizes him, now, and smiles. “I know thee well!—but in thy fortunes am unlearnèd and strange.” He is joined by his concubines, Timandra and Phrynia.

Timon waves him away. “I know thee, too—and more than that I know of thee I desire not to know!Follow thy drum!—with man’sblood paint the ground gules, gules!”—the red of heraldry. “Religious canons, civil laws are cruel; then what should war be?”

He regards the younger woman thoughtfully. “This fell”—deadly—“whore of thine hath in her more destruction than thy sword, for all her cherubin look!” Her spreading of syphilis will prove the more lethal.

“Be a whore still!” urges Timon. “They love thee not that use thee; give them who leave their lust with thee diseases! Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves for tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth to the tub-hold and the diet!”—treatments for venereal ailments.

She is disgusted. “Hang thee, monster!”

Alcibiades would soothe her. “Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits are drownèd and lost in his calamities!

“I have but little gold of late, brave Timon—the want whereof doth daily make revolt in my penurious band. I have heard, and grieved at, how cursèd Athens—mindless of thy worth, forgetting thy great deeds when neighbour states, but for thy sword and fortune, has trod upon them—”

Timon cuts him off: “I prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone!”

“I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.”

“How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble? I had rather be alone.”

“Because by thy killing of villains, thou wast born to conquer my country.” He is surprised to feel even a twinge; but he proceeds. “Put up thy gold.” He pulls the general over to the heap of coins. “Go on!—here’s gold!—go on! Be a planetaryplague, as when Jove will o’er some highly vicèd city hang his poison in the sick air!

“Let not thy sword skip one!

“Pity not honoured age for his white beard; he is an usurer!

“Strike the counterfeit matron—it is her apparel only that is honest; herself’s a bawd!

“Let not the virgin’s cheek make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk-paps that through the window”—translucent cloth—“bore into men’s eyes are not within the leaf of Pity writ—except when set down as horribletraitors!

“Spare not the baby, whose dimpled smiles from fools extract their mercy!—think it a bastard, of whom the oracle hath dreadfully pronouncèd the throatshallbecut!—and mince it sans remorse!

“Swear against objection! Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes of such strength that not the yells of mothers, maids nor babes, nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding shall pierce a jot!”

He points to the coins. “There’s gold to pay soldiers! Make largeconfusion!—then, thy fury spent, confounded be thyself!

“Speak not—begone!”

Alcibiades searches his old friend’s troubled face: they have often conferred before battle, and always discussed an armed enemy, never the innocent victims of conflict, concern for whom could slow a soldier’s sword. Yet those are clearly on Timon’s mind now….

Still, the commander can accept good fortune; he pulls the leather purse from his waist. “Hast thou gold yet? I’ll take the gold thou givest me—none of thy counsel.” He gathers it up.

Phrynia and Timandra stare at the glittering wealth. “Give us some gold, good Timon! Hast thou more?”

He nods, reaching into a pocket. “Enough to make a whore forswear her trade, and to make whores!” He shows a fistful of gold: “Abawd! Hold up, you sluts, your aprons mountant!

“You are not oathable,”—honest enough to depose, “although I know you’ll swear—terribly swear the immortal gods that hear you unto strong shudders and to heavenly agues!

“Spare your oaths,” he tells them, raising a hand for silence. He regards the voluptuousness that promises the gruesome result he wants for men. “I’ll trust to your conditions.”

He tosses money into their lifted skirts. “Be whores ever!—and he whose pious breath seeks to convert you, allure him!—be strong in whoring!—burn him up! Let your enclosèd fire predominate his smoke, and be no turncoats!

“And yet may your pains in six months be quite contrary, and thatch your poor, thin roofs”—heads left balding by syphilis—“with burthens of the dead, some that were hanged!”—with periwigs made of hair from corpses. “No matter!—wear them, betray with them! Whore still!—paint till a horse may mire upon your face!—a pox on wrinkles!”

But he, anger spent, for now, is done with them. “More whoring, more mischief first! I have given you an earnest”—initial payment.

Alcibiades has gathered up enough gold to fill his pouch, and he signals to his lieutenants. “Strike up the drum! Towards Athens!

“Farewell, Timon! If I thrive well, I’ll visit thee again.”

Timon scowls. “If I hope well, I’ll never see thee more.”

“I never did thee harm,” notes Alcibiades gently.

“Yes,” counters Timon, “thou spokest well of me.”

“Call’st thou that harm?”

“Men daily find it so! Get thee away, and take thy beagles with thee.”

Alcibiades turns to go. “We but offend him,” he tells the women. He calls to the drummer: “Strike!”

Many of the soldiers spurned by Athens march grimly forward to collect—violently—what has for too long been owed to them.

Blinking in the sunlight after glum rumination inside the nearly dark cave, Timon has emerged from his damp shelter beside the bay. Setting out more coins, he is surprised at his appetite this morning. That nature, being sick with man’s unkindness, should still be hungry!

He grasps the spade’s rough handle, bleached gray by salt water. In the shortening shadow of the hill above, he begins again to dig in the sandy earth.

Then sear thy fertile and conceptious womb!—let it no more bring out ingrateful Man! Go great —be pregnant— with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears; teem with new monsters, whom thine upward face hath to the marbled mansion all above never presented!

He finally finds sustenance. Oh, a root!—dear thanks! He rinses it in brine, and cuts it into pieces. He drinks spring water from a dented tin cup—another prized gift from the ancient cave.

Dry up thy marrows, vines and plough-torn leaves, whereof ungrateful Man, with liquorish draughts and morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind such that from it all consideration slips!

He sees a lone figure plodding up the strand toward him. More of Man? Plague, plague!

“I was directed hither,” Apemantus tells him—abrupt as always, and wasting no time with greeting. Yesterday in the city he heard the common talk of Timon’s fury, and of his diatribes against humanity. “Men report thou dost affect my manners—and dost abuse them!”

Apemantus looks around, annoyed. “This is in thee a nature but affected—a poor, unmanly melancholy sprung from change of fortune! Why this spade?—this place?—this slave-like attire, and these looks of care?

“Shame not these woods by putting on the cunning of a carpenter!—be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive by that which has undone thee!” He savors the nobleman’s expected humiliation, and evokes very rude images: “Hinge thy knee, and let his very breath whom thou’lt serve blow off the top of thy cap!—praise his most viciousstain, and call it excellent!

“Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself—a madman so long, now a fool!

“What think’st?—that the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain, will put thy shirt on warmed? Will these mossèd trees, that have outlived the eagle, page at thy heels, and skip to where thou point’st out? Will the cold brook, candied with ice, caudle thy morning toast to cure thine o’er-night’s surfeit?

“Call the creatures who naked live in all the spite of wreakful heaven, whose unhousèd trunks to the conflicting elements are exposed, answering mere Nature!—bid them flatter thee!

“Willing misery outlives incertain pomp—is crownèd before!” he boasts. “The one”—a genuine cynic—“is ever filling, never complete. The other,”—the impostor, “in best state discontented with his wish, hath a distracted and most wretched bearing; then, worse than the worst,”—he pauses to scathe with his greatest insult: “is content!

“Thou shouldst desire to die, being ‘miserable!’”

Timon scowls. “Not by his breath who is more miserable! Thou art a slave, whom Fortune’s arm with tender favour never clasped, but was bred a dog!

“Hadst thou, like us from our first swath, proceeded in the sweet degrees that this brief world affords to such as may the passive drugs of it”—leisure and privilege—“freely command, thou wouldst have plunged thyself in generalriot!—melted down thy youth in different beds of lust!—and never learned the icy precepts of respect, but followed the sugared game”—chased sweet temptations—“before thee!

“But myself, who had the world as my confectionery, who had at duty the mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of more men than I could frame employment for, which numberless upon me stuck as leaves do on the oak—but have, with one winter’s brushing, fallen from their boughs and left me bare, open to every storm that blows!—for me to bear this, who never knew but better, is some burden!

Apemantus only laughs. “The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends! When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much;in thy rags thou knowest none, and art despisèd for the contrary!

Apemantus snorts. “What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thyflatterers?”—sons of bitches, in his view.

“Women nearest;but men—men are things themselves!”—thing is a term for prick. Timon thinks of the gold he’s dispersed. “What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?”

“Give it to the beasts, to be rid of the men.”

“Wouldst thou have thyself fall, in the confounding of men, and remain as a beast with the beasts?”

“Aye, Timon.”

“A beastly ambition!—may the gods grant thee to attain it!

“If thou wert a lion, the fox would beguile thee; if thou wert a lamb, the fox would eat three!

“If thou wert a fox, the lion would suspect thee when peradventure thou wert accused by anass; if thou wert the ass, thy dullness would ever torment thee—and thou’d live but as a breakfast for the wolf!

“Wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be kicked by the horse;wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard; wert thou a leopard, thou wert related to the lion—and the spots from thy parentage were jurors on thy life!”—would reveal bastardy. “All thy safety were remotion, and thy defence absence!

“Wert thou a unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury!” Self. He pauses, and looks down, thinking.

Timon sees Apemantus smiling. “What beast couldst thou be that were not subject to a beast?—and what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in any transformation!”

Apemantus chuckles. “If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou mightst have hit upon it there! The commonwealth of Athens is become a ‘forest of beasts!’”

“What?—has the ass broken the wall, that thou art out of the city?”

Apemantus knows of two other Athenians who plan to come down to visit Timon. “Yonder come a poet and a painter!” he says gleefully. “The plague of company lights upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and give way!” He moves back along the sand, toward the road to town. “When I know not what else to do, I’ll see thee again.”

“When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome! I had rather be a beggar’s dog than Apemantus!”

Timon smiles. “So that in death I may laugh at others’ lives!” He drops the stone, takes gold from his pocket, and looks at it. “O thou sweet king-killer, and costly divorce ’twixt natural son and sire! Thou bright defiler of Hymen’s purest bed! Thou valiant Mars! Thou ever-young, fresh, lovèd and delicate wooer, whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow that lies on Dian’s lap!”—arouse virgins. “Thou visible god, that solder’st near impossibilities, and makest them kiss!—that speak’st with every tongue, to every purpose!”

He beseeches the gold: “O thou toucher of hearts, think of thy slaves, men, as rebels!—and by thy virtue, set them into confoundingodds!”—destructive opposition, “so that beasts may have the world in empire!”

“Would ’twere so!” says Apemantus—adding, “but not till I am dead.” Aware of having been bested in denunciation, he has a reprisal: “I’ll say thou hast gold!—thou wilt be throngedto shortly!”

“Thronged to!” The recluse has second thoughts.

“Aye!”

“Thy back, I prithee!”

Apemantus laughs. “Live, and love thy misery!”

Timon returns the malediction: “Long live so—and so die!” He grabs the spade and begins digging, furiously heaving sand from a long, deepening hole—to be a grave.

“I am quit,” murmurs Apemantus. He glances at the wet rods of root. More things like men!

He bites into the soft medlar. Eat, Timon—and abhor them! He plods back to Athens.

Chapter Seven

Visitors

While Alcibiades has been engaged in equipping his newly amassed army, and in readying the men for the assault on Athens, his mistresses have spent some of their sudden wealth—and have told how they got it. Word of Timon’s loathsome new largesse has traveled quickly in Athens and its environs—even to some who skulk in the hills above Timon’s cave.

The chief of one such band doubts that Timon has much to steal. “Wherefore should he have this gold?” he demands, as he and his fellows come down warily among the trees. “It is some poor fragment, some slender part of his remainder; the sheer want of gold, and the falling-from of his friends, drove him into thismelancholy.”

Reaching the shore, they start along the sand toward the would-be hermit.

“It is noised he hath a mass of treasure!” insists his second in command, a wizened graybeard.

“Let us make the assay upon him!” says a former corporal. “If he care not for’t, he will supply us easily!” But then he wonders: “If he covetously reserve it, how shall ’s get it?”

“We are not thieves, but men that much do want!”—need, argues the corporal.

Timon scoffs. “Your greatest want”—deficience—“is that you want much of meat!”—lack masculinity. “Why should you do without?” He gestures grandly up toward the forest. “Behold, the earth hath roots; within this mile break forth a hundred springs; the oaks bear mast,”—their fruit, acorns, which can be fed to swine, “the briers scarlet hips!”—berries. “The bounteous housewife Nature on each bush lays her full supper before you!

“Want! Why want?”

“We cannot live on grass, on berries and water, as beasts and birds and fishes!” protests the chief.

“Yet thanks! I must acknowledge that you are thieves professèd—that you work not in holier shapes; for there is boundless theft in limited professions”—the licensed ones, deemed honorable. “Rascal thieves, here’s gold!” He leads them to the new pile he has set outside. “Go, suck the subtle blood o’ the grape till the high fever seethe your blood to froth!—and so ’scape hanging!

“Trust not the physician,” Timon advises. “His antidotes are poison, and he slays more than you rob!

“Take wealth and lives together! Do villainy!Do it—since you profess to do’t—likeworkmen!”

He paces, ire rising. “I’ll example you with thievery!

“The sun’s a thief, and with his great attraction robs the vast sea! The moon’s an arrant thief, and her pale fire she snatches from the sun! The sea’s a thief, whose liquid surge dissolves women into salt tears!”—those of sailors’ widows. “The earth’s a thief, that feeds and breeds by a composture stolen from general excrement!

“Each thing’s a thief!” he cries, approaching a frenzy. “The laws—your curb and whip!—hold in their rough power uncheckèdtheft!

“Love not yourselves!—away!—rob one another!” The varlets edge back from him as he rages. “There’s more gold! Cutthroats!—all that you meet are thieves!”

He urges them on, hotly, to augment Alcibiades’ fight against the city. “To Athens go; break open shops! Nothing can you steal but thieves do lose it! Steal no less because of this I give you!—and gold confoundyou howsoe’er!

“Amen!”

The newest bandit, a red-complexioned corporal, is taken aback by the tirade. “He has almost charmed me from my profession, by persuading me to it!”

“’Tis in a malice for mankind that he thus advises us,” warns the leader, “not to have us thrive in our mystery!”—their craft.

The wary chief, a former lieutenant, wants to wait. “Let us first see peace in Athens. There is no time so miserable but that a man may be true.”

The banditti, however shaken, gather up the loose gold and steal away—not to their lair in the upper woods, but to Athens, where, like proper soldiers, they soon will squander it all.

—

Flavius has found Timon, and stands on the hot sand, holding a bag of clothes, and watching from a distance as his fallen master digs a grave.

O you gods! Is yond despisèd and ruinous man my lord?—full of decay, and failing! Oh, monument of wonder to good deeds evilly bestowèd! What an alteration of honour has desperate want made! What viler thing upon the earth than friends who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!

How rarely does it meet with this time’s guise, when man was wishèd to love his enemies! Grant that I may ever love, and rather woo, those that would mischief me than those that do!

The steward walks toward Timon. He has caught me in his eye! I will present my honest grief unto him—and still serve him, as my lord, with my life! “My dearest master!”

Timon regards him with annoyance. “Away! What art thou?”

“Have you forgot me, sir?”

Timon resumes shoveling. “Why dost ask that? I have forgotten all men; then if thou grant’st thou’rt a man, I have forgotten thee.”

Flavius sets down the bag, and holds his hat in his hands. “An honest poor servant of yours.”

“Then I know thee not! I never had honest men about me; all I kept were knaves, serving up meat to villains!”

“As the gods are witness,” says Flavius, softly, “ne’er did poor steward wear a truer grief for his undone lord than mine eyes for you.”

Timon stops to look—and suddenly is quite touched. “What, dost thou weep? Come nearer,” he says gently. This man’s bona fide affection moves the misanthrope, his general anger notwithstanding. Then I’ll love thee because thou art a woman, and disclaim’st flinty mankind—whose eyes do never give but through lust and laughter!

He reflects: Pity’s sleeping; strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping.

The nobleman is stunned. Had I a steward so true, so just?—and now so comforting! It almost turns my dangerous nature mild…. “Let me behold thy face.” Timon smiles. “Surely,” he says dryly, “this man was born of woman!”

He looks up. Forgive my general and exceptionless rashness, you perpetually sober gods. I do proclaim one honest man! Mistake me not, I pray!—but one!—no more. And he’s a steward! The jest is in irony: it’s commonly thought that every steward pilfers.

Timon’s “one” was deliberate; he is starting to facing his failings. Aware now of his own tears, he says, in mock complaint, “How fain would I have hated all mankind—and thou redeem’st thyself!

“All but save thee I’d fell with curses!

“Methinks thou art more honest now than wise!—for, by oppressing and betraying me, thou mightst have sooner got another service”—obtained a new position. “Many so arrive at second masters—upon their first lord’s neck!

“But tell me true—for I must ever question, though ne’er so sure: is not thy kindness subtle, covetous—a usuring kindness?—and as rich men deal in ‘gifts,’ expectingin return twenty for one.”

“No, my most worthy master!—in whose breast ‘doubt’ and ‘suspect,’ alas, are placèd too late! You should have fearèd ‘false’ in times when you did feast! Suspicion ever comes when an estate is least!

“That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love—zeal and duty to your unmatchèd mind, care for your food and living! And believe it, my most honoured lord, any benefit that points to me, either in hope or at present, I’d exchange for this one wish:that you had power and wealth to requite me by making rich your self.”

Timon startles the steward by laughing—happily. “Look, then—’tis so!” He gently takes Flavius by the arm and leads him to the flat rock on which the heap of glistening coins has again been replenished.

Flavius silently stows the unexpected bounty, soon to be shared with his fellow servants, in his thin, worn purse. He walks, forlorn, back to the city.

Timon watches, knowing that, for the first time, his instructions will be ignored.

Only after the good man is long out of sight does he return to digging.

—

Hearing voices this evening, Timon, resting at the edge of the pit, gets up and moves away quickly, ducking behind the concealing undergrowth.

The poet and the painter, accustomed to pavement, tread awkwardly in the softer sand.

The younger man looks back to the road, then up and down the coast. “As I took note of the place, it cannot be far, where he abides.”

The painter ponders. “What’s to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true that he’s so full of gold?”

“Certain! Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him; he likewise enrichèd poor straggling soldiers with great quantity! ’Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum!”

“Then this breaking of his has been but a test of his friends.”

“Nothing else!” says the poet, as they approach the cave; Timon can already hear them. “You shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourishing with the highest! Therefore ’tis not amiss we tender our loves to him, in this supposèd distress of his! It will show as honesty in us—and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for,”—money, “if it be a just, true report that goes, about his having.”

“What have you now to present unto him?”

“Nothing at this time but my visitation; I will only promise him an excellent piece.”

“I must serve him so, too—tell him of an intent that’s coming toward him.”

“Good!—as the best promising is the very air o’ the times;it opens the eyes of expectation!” says the poet.

The painter nods. “Performance is ever the duller in its act. Even in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use; promising is more courtly and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will or testament—which implies a great sickness in the judgment of he who makes it.”

The poet frowns. “I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It must be a personating of himself—a satire against the softness of prosperity, with exposition of the infinite flatteries that follow after wealth and opulency.”

- Thou must needs pose for the villain in thine own work!

Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so!—I have gold forthee!

The two are nearing the cave. “Aye, let’s seek him!” says the poet. He rhymes: “‘Then do we sin against our own estate, When we may profit meet, but come too late!’”

“True. ‘When day yet serves, before black-cornered night, Find what thou want’st, by the free and offered light.’ Come.”

Timon draws back. I’ll meet you at the turn. Hidden by the brush, he dashes silently toward his cavern. What a god is gold, that he is worshipped in a baser temple than where swine feed!

’Tis thou that rigg’st the ship, and plough’st the foam, settlest admirèd reverence in a slave! To thee be worship!—and may thy saints who theealone obey forever be crownèd with plagues!

’Tis fit I meet them! Timon has use for such men.He emerges slowly from the tall bushes, as if unaware of the visitors.

The poet greets him warmly: “Hail, worthy Timon!”

“Our late noble master,” says the painter.

Timon sounds delighted: “Have I lived to see two honest men at once?”

The poet bows. “Sir, having often of your open bounty tasted, hearing you were retirèd, your friends fall’n off, whose thankless natures—” He sighs. “Oh, abhorrèd spirits!—not all the whips of heaven are large enough! What?—to you, whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence to their whole being! I am rapt, and cannot cover the monstrous bulk of this ingratitude with any size of words!”

“Let it go naked; men may see’t the better,” says Timon. “And as you are honest, make them best seen and known by being what you are.”

“He and myself have travailed in the great shower of your gifts,” says the painter, “and sweetly felt it.”

“Aye; you are honest men.”

The painter bows. “We are hither come to offer you our service.”

“Most honest men!” says Timon. But he looks around at the barren shore. “Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots, and drink cold water?” He sees their expressions. “No…?”

The artist—taking that as praise for skill in representing with paint—is pleased. “So-so, my lord,” he says modestly.

“E’en so, sir, asI say!” Timon turns to the writer. “And as for thy fiction—why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth that thou art even natural in thine art!” The pompous poet, flattered to be thought faithful to nature, misses Timon’s gibe: a natural is a person so ignorant and slow as to act stupidly.

Timon regards them. “But, for all this, my honest-natured friends, I must needs say you have a little fault! Marry, ’tis not monstrous in you; neither wish I that you take much pains to mend….”

The poet is eager to please. “Beseech Your Honour to make it known to us!”

Timon holds back. “You’ll take it ill….”

“Most thankfully, my lord,” the painter assures him.

“Will you indeed?”

“Doubt it not, worthy lord!”

Timon leans closer and reveals, “There’s neither one of you but trusts a knave that mightily deceives you!”

Both are fascinated. “Do we, my lord?”

“Aye! And you hear him cog, see him dissemble, know his gross patchery—yet love him, feed him, keep in your bosom! Remain assurèd, he’s made up of villainy!”

The painter is nonplussed. “I know none such, my lord.”

The poet’s brow wrinkles as he thinks. “Nor I.”

But Timon seems to be quite concerned. “Look you, I love you well; I’ll give you gold to drive these villains from your companies!—hang them, or stab them, drown them in a draught, confound them by some course! Then come to me—I’ll give you gold enough!”

“Name them, my lord,” says the artist.

“Let us know them!” cries the poet.

Timon points from one to the other and back. “You that way, and you this!

“Two, when accompanied—but each man apart, all single and alone, an arch-villain always keeps him company!” he explains gruffly. “If where thou art, two villains shall not be, come not near him!” he warns the painter. “If thou wouldst not reside but where one villain is, then him abandon!” he tells the poet.

“Hence!” he orders, pulling them toward the pile of coins. “Pack! There’s gold! You came for gold, ye slaves! You have worked for me!—there’s payment for you!”

As they hurriedly scrape up the coins, he cries, “Hence!” He spits at the painter. “You are an alchemist,” he says with fierce sarcasm, “make gold of that!

“Out, rascal dogs!”

Swinging the spade menacingly, he drives them away with the blade of honest iron, each man still clutching at yet-unpocketed pieces of precious metal as they scramble away, kicking up sand.

Chapter Eight

Coming to Terms

Two senators have prevailed upon Flavius to guide them from Athens to his former master. As their city becomes aware that it will soon come under attack by Alcibiades’ troops, civil order has deteriorated into dissension and fear. Lord Timon, as a well known community beacon, a former army commander—and the wrathful general’s friend—could be of help.

“It is in vain that you would speak with Timon,” Flavius warns them, as they near his retreat, “for he is set so only to himself that nothing but himself which looks like man is friendly with him.”

“Bring us to his cave,” grumbles the rotund statesman, puffing with the unaccustomed effort. “It is our part and promise to the Athenians to speak with Timon.”

The other, younger orator is more hopeful. “Men are not at all times alike, ever the same; ’twas time in griefs that framed him thus. With its fairer hand offering the fortunes of his former days, Time may make him the former man. Bring us to him, and chance it as it may.”

Flavius points just ahead. “Here is his cave.” Peace and content be here! he silently prays. “Lord Timon!” he calls. “Timon, look out, and speak to friends! The Athenians, by two of their most reverend Senate, greet thee! Speak to them, noble Timon!”

“Speak, and be hanged!” he tells the lawmakers. “For each true word, a blister!—and may each false one be cauterizing to the root o’ the tongue, consumingit with the speaking!”

“Worthy Timon—” the old senator begins.

“Of none but such as you—and you of Timon!” mutters the hermit.

“The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.”

“I thank them—and would send them back theplague, could I but catch it for them!”

“Oh, forgive what we are sorry for, ourselves, in regard to thee!” pleads the younger nobleman. “With one consent of love the senators—who have thought of specialdignities, which vacant lie for thy best use and wearing!—entreat thee back to Athens!”

Says the other lord, “They confess toward thee forgetfulness too generally gross. Now the public body, which doth seldom play the recanter, feeling in itself the lack of Timon’s aid, hath sense withal of its own failing, in restraining aid to Timon, and sends forth us, to make their sorrow rendered—together with a recompense more fruitful than their offence can weigh down by the dram!

“Aye, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth as shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs, and write in thee the figures of their love, ever to read them thine!”

Timon seems touched. “You ’witch me in it—surprise me to the very brink of tears!” But then he scowls. “Lend me a fool’s heart and a woman’s eyes,” he says sourly, “and I’ll beweep these comforts, worthy senators!”

The older lord persists. “If it please thee to return with us, and to take the captainship of our Athens—thine and ours—there thou shalt be met with thanks, allowèd with absolute power, and in thy good name live with authority!

“But if he sack fair Athens, and take our goodly, agèd men by the beards, give our holy virgins to the stain of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained War, then let him know—and tell him Timon speaks it!—that, in pity for our agèd and our youth, I cannot choose but tell him I carenot!

“And let him take’t atworst!—for their knives care not, while you have throats to answer!

“As for myself, there’s not a whittle in this unruly camp but I do prize in my love before the reverend’st throat in Athens!

“So I leave you to the protection of thy prosperous gods—as thieves to jailers!” he snarls.

Flavius is loath to aggravate Timon’s anger further. He tells the senators, “Stay not—all’s in vain!”

Timon embraces that sentiment: “Well, I was writing my epitaph!—it will be seen tomorrow.

“My long sickness—of health and living—now begins to mend,” he says, with grim irony, “and nothing brings me all things.

“Go, live still!—be Alcibiades your plague, you his—and last so long enough!”—to the end.

The old man’s shoulders sag, and he turns to go. “We speak in vain.”

“And yet, I love mycountry,” says Timon, “and am not one who rejoices in the ‘commonwrack,’ as common bruit doth put it.”

“These words become your lips as they pass thorough them!” says the old man.

“And enter in our ears like great triumphers, in their applauding gates!” says the other.

“—commend me to them, and tell them that, to ease them of their griefs, their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses, their pangs of love—with other incident throes that nature’s fragile vessel doth sustain in life’s uncertain voyage—I will some kindness do them.

“I’ll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades’ wrath.”

“I like this well!” cries the fat senator, beaming. “He will return again!”

Timon proceeds. “I have a tree, which grows here in my close, that mine own use invites me to cut down; and shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends, tell all Athens, in the sequence of degree from high to low throughout, that whoso please to stopaffliction, let him make his haste, come hither ere my tree hath felt the axe—and hang himself!

“I pray you’ll do my greeting!”

Flavius urges the stunned men to go. “Trouble him no further; thus you still shall find him.”

“Come not to me again!” demands the recluse, “but say to Athens, ‘Timon hath made his everlasting mansion upon the beachèd verge of the salt flood, which once a day with its embossèd froth the turbulent surge shall cover! If thither come, let my grave-stone be your oracle!

A legislator peers out through the massive southern gate, opened only a crack, watching for the emissaries they sent to the pariah. “We stand much in hazard if they bring not Timon!” The hope is that Alcibiades’ former ally can be induced to return, and to bargain—or plead—for them.

“I met a courier, one mine ancient friend,” the scout tells them. “Though in general part we were opposèd, yet our old love made a particular force, and bade us speak like friends.

“This man was riding from Alcibiades to Timon’s cave, with letters of entreaty which imported his fellowship i’ the cause against our city—in part for his sake movèd.”

“Here come our brothers!” cries a senator.

The lords who entreated Timon hurry between the tall gate doors, followed by Flavius.

The fat senator wheezes, “No talk of Timon!—nothing of him expect! The enemy’s drum is heard, and a fearful swarming doth choke the air with dust!

“In, and prepare! Ours is the fall, I fear; our foes’—the snare!”

—

A horseman reins his lathered mount to an abrupt halt, its hooves sinking in the sand not far from Timon’s cave.

Alcibiades’ courier dismounts quickly, thinking, By all description this should be the place.

“Who’s here?” he calls. “Speak, ho!”

No answer!

What is this? He leads the panting horse to a mound near the shore. He finds words scratched onto the flat stone at its head. The illiterate soldier is dismayed. Dead, surely!—and this his grave! He pulls off his hat, and stands, silent for a moment, looking at the letters, which begin, Timon is dead who hath outstretched his span. Some beast read this; there does not live a man.

The rider considers. What’s on this tomb I cannot read. The characters I’ll take with wax; our captain hath skill in every figure—an agèd interpreter, though young in days.

Back at his saddle, he pulls from a leather bag—its written offer to Timon still unopened—a wax-covered tablet and a slender, pointed rod. He kneels to copy the makeshift gravestone’s markings, which he will take to Alcibiades.

Before proud Athens he’s set down by now! The man mounts his steed. Its fall is the mark of his ambition!

Eager to take part in that conquest, he soon rides away at a gallop.

Trumpeted warnings are echoing through the city when the general leads his multitude of soldiers right up to the wall outside Athens. “Sound to this coward and lascivious town our terrible approach!” cries Alcibiades.

At the gates, his herald’s horn blares out a demand for a parley. Soon several ashen-faced senators appear on the parapet above; other fearful nobles cluster behind them, along with common citizens.

Alcibiades draws his sword and addresses the lords angrily. “Till now you have gone on, and filled the time with all licentious measure!” cries the man with two mistresses, “making yourwills the scope of justice!

“Till now, myself and such as slept within the shadow of your power have wandered—traversed with our arms, and vainly breathed our sufferance.

“Now the time is flush when marrow crouching in the bearer criesstrongly, of itself, ‘No more!’ Now the breathless wrongèd shall sit in your great chairs of ease!

“Then pant with fear in horridflight, when pursy insolence shall break its wind!”

His men laugh, and roar their approval, shaking their spears and battle-axes, and waving swords above their heads, ready to begin the assault.

The eldest senator moves closer to the edge of the high wall. “Noble and young,” he calls down to Alcibiades, “when first thy griefs were but a mere idea—ere thou hadst power, or we had cause of fear—we sent to thee, to give thy rages balm—to wipe out our ingratitude with loves above their quantity!”

Adds the younger emissary, “And so did we woo transformèd Timon to our city’s love, by humble message, and by promisèd means!

“We were not all unkind,” the Athenian argues, “nor do all deserve the common stroke of war!”

Says the old one, “These walls of ours were not erected by their hands from whom you have received your griefs. Nor are they such that these great towers, trophies and schools should fall because of private faults in them!”

“Nor are those living who were the reasons that you first went out!” the younger man tells the general—revealing the lethal depth of the town’s internal turmoil. “Shame!—that they wanted!”—lacked. “Cunning inexcess hath broken their hearts!

“March, noble lord, into our city with thy banners spread! By decimation—tithèd death, if thy revenge hungers for that food which Nature loathes—take thou the destined tenth, and by the hazard of the spotted die”—throw of the dice—“let die the spotted!”—guilty.

“All have not offended!” the desperate old senator points out. “It is not square to takerevenges on those that are for those that were!”—men already executed. “Crimes are not, like lands, inherited!

“Then, dear countryman, bring in thy ranks, but leave outside thy rage!Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin who in the bluster of thy wrath might fall with those that have offended! Like a shepherd, approach the fold and cull the infected forth, but kill not all together!”

“Throw thy glove, or any token else of thine honour,” urges the younger man, “that thou wilt use the wars as thyredress, and not for ourdestruction, and all thy powers shall make their harbour in our town till we have sealèd thy full desire!”

Alcibiades, looking up, stares past the lords and sees the faces of the innocents condemned in Timon’s fiery rhetoric. He knows he has already won, and he does not no enjoy seeing the women and children cowering.

“Then there’s my glove,” he says, tossing one to the ground. “Descend, and open your unchargèd ports!

“Those enemies of Timon’s and mine own—whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof—fall, and no more.

“And, to atone your fears with my more-noble meaning: not a man shall surpass his quarter,”—take more than housing, “or offend the stream of regular justice in your city’s bounds, but shall be rendered to your public laws at heaviest answer.” His troops will not run riot in Athens.

The senators are visibly relieved and pleased. “’Tis most nobly spoken!”

Alcibiades commands them: “Descend, and keep your words!”

Securing bars are lifted free, and soon the massive gates swing open; the senators come forth to welcome the commander and his men home.

As the leaders talk, a courier rides up to stop near Alcibiades. He dismounts, sweeps off his hat, and bows. “My noble general, Timon is dead!—entombèd upon the very hem o’ the sea.” He opens the saddle bag. “And on his grave-stone this insculpture, which with wax I brought away, whose soft impression interpret for my poor ignorance.”

He addresses the crowd of citizens and soldiers. “Dead is noble Timon!—of whose memory hereafter more.”

Alcibiades ponders for a moment, then faces the lords. “Bring me into your city, and I will use the olive with my sword, make war breed peace!” He will mediate contraries: “Make peace stint war; make each prescribe to the other, and each the other’s leech”—healer, although Apemantus would have laughed at the phrasing.

The general sheathes his sword. “Let our drums strike!” Athenians will not use their weapons against each other.

—

As the ship, sails billowing, glides out from the river into the blue gulf, its captain glances, briefly, at a sunburned passenger, just recently boarded for the vessel’s return to Sicily. The modest, soft-spoken gentleman has brought but one very heavy bag. He stands still, alone on the deck now, his gaze fixed on the passing shore, below the woods south of Athens.

The old seaman turns back to his duties.

The traveler, watching as the deserted coast drifts past and is slowly left behind, smiles.

He recalls a phrase, “Here lie I,” enjoying its duplicity; and he notes with satisfaction that the injunction to stay away is being heeded.

Seek not my name, he thinks, satisfied.

Along the sand, the rising tide already laps at the rough stone covering all that remains of noble Timon of Athens.